CodeNewbie

Meet Matt Eland, AI Specialist at Leading EDJE. Matt shares what sparked his passion for AI years ago, why he’s made the decision to go back to school for his master's degree and how he aims to continue spreading his expertise with the community. Show Links Partner with Dev & CodeNewbie! (sponsor) Matt on Data Science Central Ohio .NET Developer Group Matt's Twitter Matt's GitHub Matt's LinkedIn Matt ElandMatt is a habitual learner, speaker, and author who seeks to learn new things and share them with others in the nerdiest ways possible. Matt is a Microsoft MVP in AI, runs 2 blogs, a YouTube channel, organizes the Central Ohio .NET Developer Group, is currently working on his second book, second course, and finishing his master's degree. We're told Matt occasionally sleeps as well.

Meet Chris Immel, AI Engineer and Digital Artist at Luminifera Projects. Chris shares how he works to create a symbiosis between software development and art and why he remains optimistic when it comes to the AI revolution. Show Links Partner with Dev & CodeNewbie! (sponsor) Chris' Instagram Chris' Website Chris' GitHub Chris' LinkedIn Chris ImmelChris is a seasoned software architect and engineer who has built a broad variety of systems and energetically contributed to a long series of software startups of all sizes. He believes deeply in the inevitability of the transformative effect of AI on human society, and wants to be part of making that a transformation for the better.

Meet Daniel Bourke, Founder of mrdbourke Studios and Founder of Nutrify. Daniel shares his experiences trying to learn to code four different times before it finally stuck, how he’s combining his passions for health, technology and art and the time he built his own machine learning roadmap. Show Links Partner with Dev & CodeNewbie! (sponsor) Daniel's LinkedIn Daniel's Website ML Courses Nutrify Daniel's Twitter Daniel's LinkedIn Daniel BourkeDaniel is a writer who makes YouTube videos about the crossover of health, technology and art. His mission is to use AI to help people move more and eat better.

Meet Chelsea Kaufman, Founder and CEO of LEARN Academy Chelsea shares why her background in theater set her up perfectly to found LEARN Academy, an AI native coding bootcamp, how she’s seen the bootcamp landscape evolve over the years and what role she believes AI will play in the future of software development. Show Links Partner with Dev & CodeNewbie! (sponsor) AI-Native Developers program LEARN Academy Website LEARN Academy Twitter Chelsea KaufmanChelsea, a strategic people leader, has dedicated the past decade to workforce planning & development. As the founder and CEO of LEARN Academy and co-founder of the Software Residency, she has transformed the careers of countless individuals in the tech industry. Her work has also been instrumental in helping hundreds of companies establish and maintain a robust talent pipeline of software talent.

Meet Rob Frelow, Co-founder & Chief AI Officer at The Storygraph. Rob shares how a trip in his friend’s Tesla led him to enroll in his first AI course, how he broke into AI later in his career and his experience truly living the dream waking up each morning excited to dive into AI and his work at Storygraph. Show Links Partner with Dev & CodeNewbie! (sponsor)

Meet Pau Bajo, Machine Learning Engineer and Educator at Real-World Machine Learning. Pau talks to Saron about transitioning from working daily in Excel to Python, why data is everything, and what skills early developers need to foster if they want a career in machine learning. Show Links Partner with Dev & CodeNewbie! (sponsor) Machine Learning Python Pau's GitHub Pau's Instagram Pau's Twitter Pau Labarta BajoPau is a Mathematician turned Machine Learning Engineer, turned Machine Learning educator. He creates hands-on content about Real-World Machine Learning and shares it with the world almost always for free and sometimes “for a fee” because he has a mortgage to pay. He tries to make people laugh too. The mortgage thing is not a joke.

In this week’s episode, we explore the journey of Alejandro Aspinwall, a Frontend Engineer at Amazon. You’ll hear how Alejandro began his career deeply immersed in the world of music and what led him to transition to the world of tech. He emphasizes the importance of adaptability in his career shift and provides insights into how coding bootcamps played a pivotal role in his development. Additionally, Alejandro explores the impact of artificial intelligence in his work, particularly discussing how AI tools have become an integral part of his coding toolkit. His experiences offer valuable perspectives on the practical use of AI in software engineering, and his story sheds light on the evolving nature of tech careers and the increasing role of AI in the industry. Show Links Partner with Dev & CodeNewbie! (sponsor) VS Code NPM Prisma GraphQL Cody Sourcegraph Stable Diffusion Claude Poe AWS Whisper FreeCodeCamp Coursera Udemy JavaScript C# Unity Unity DevOps Sound Engineering API Frontend Engineer Stack Overflow ChatGPT Open AI Alejandro AspinwallAlejandro started playing with computers when he was 11 years-old. Since then he has been tinkering with all sorts of technologies that in some way or another led him to work on music, photography, sound engineering, electric engineering, automation, video production, feature film post-production, VR games, and 3D sound. As a Senior Frontend Engineer at Amazon, he is responsible for maintaining and enhancing a suite of applications that cater to over 1 million daily users.

Meet Shawn Charles, Developer Advocate & Community Manager at The Hunt. Shawn shares with Saron how he got into tech solely by building and maintaining websites for local businesses, what inspired him to level up by enrolling in a bootcamp, and his advice on those who might feel overwhelmed in identifying their career path in this new world revolving around AI. Show Links Partner with Dev & CodeNewbie! (sponsor) Resilient Coders AWS Services Udemy Shawn's GitHub Shawn's Twitter Shawn CharlesPreviously an Amazon (Audible) Software Engineer and now building tech communities as a Developer Advocate.

Meet Katherine Evans, Lead Engineering Instructor at Actualize Coding Bootcamp and Senior Software Engineer at Neon One. Katherine walks us through her journey from bootcamp student to bootcamp teacher, sharing tips for recent grads looking to land their first role. Saron and Katherine also talk about whether Katherine thinks it’s still worth learning to code given the economic climate and what she would tell others who might be interested in learning to code. Show Links Code Comments (sponsor) IRL (sponsor) Actualize Coding Bootcamp Podium Education CAD PHP Katherine's GitHub Katherine's Website Katherine's Instagram Katherine EvansKatherine Evans is a software engineer, tech educator, and (amateur) potter living in Chicago. With a background in nonprofit work, she’s focused on how technology can tackle real-world problems, improve peoples’ lives, and do good in the world. A perennial student, she finds joy in learning new things and sharing these discoveries with others.

Saron speaks with Johnny Proano, Associate Software Engineer at Hilton Grand Vacations. Initially drawn to code while building his personal DJ website, Johnny took the full leap with the support of his family. Johnny discusses his initial belief that a degree was necessary to become a software engineer and his decision to attend a coding bootcamp instead. He reflects on the differences between the bootcamp and college experience and shares his job search process after graduation. Show Links Code Comments (sponsor) IRL (sponsor) SQL Ruby Johnny's GitHub Johnny's Instagram Jonny's Website Johnny ProanoJohnny is a passionate Chicago Bulls fan, music enthusiast, Star Wars fan, and a proud father with a love for the creativity of coding. He is a dedicated Software Engineer blending university education and a coding bootcamp experience bringing leadership, innovation, and a commitment to making a difference through code: “Think it, code it, make a difference!"

Saron chats with Ronesha Dennis, Founder and Lead Engineer at Bergeron-Woodley. Ronesha talks about growing up and how tech played a role in her childhood (her first website was a fan site for Lil Bow Wow). She talks about how she ended up in another career for 5 years until she sat down and thought about things she liked doing as a child without being paid for doing those things. This led her to want to get into tech. She decided to leave her job, move back with her parents, and do an 8-week program on Ruby on Rails. She then did a fellowship with Code for Progress. After graduating, she landed a job as a consultant then advanced to an Engineer, a Senior Engineer, and finally to managing other Engineers. She has authored coding books and she has her company building applications for nonprofits and other small businesses. Ronesha speaks on the mental health break she took after making the switch to tech and how important it is to give yourself space and time to take breaks after a career transition. Show Links Code Comments (sponsor) IRL (sponsor) Python, the Relatable Way Coding with Cornell Ruby on Rails Ronesha's GitHub Ronesha's Instagram Ronesha's Twitter Ronesha DennisRonesha D. Dennis is a software engineer and coding instructor. She is the author of a coding book series for children titled Coding with Cornell, and a coding book for young adult and adult beginners titled Python, the Relatable Way.

Saron speaks with Shona Chan this week about her experience navigating the world of software following a successful career as a doctor in the field of Anaesthesia. Shona shares her experience working in the medical field for 10 years until she decided she wanted to pivot into tech. Shona talks about how she made the decision to go to a bootcamp to learn to code and how she got her first job in tech. Finally, she talks about transferable skills from her medical career to her newfound tech career and reiterates how there are so many skills career transitioners can take from one career to another. Show Links Code Comments (sponsor) IRL (sponsor) JavaScript CSS Shona's GitHub Shona's Twitter Shona ChanShona Chan is a doctor and software engineer, focused on enhancing healthcare through technology. Before Shona discovered coding, she worked in the field of Anaesthesia in the UK. She started learning to code so that she could build an app for her workplace. She couldn't ignore this newfound interest and so enrolled herself in Le Wagon's Web Dev Bootcamp to develop her skills.

Saron chats with Laura Thorson, Program Manager at GitHub. Laura talks about how she was always interested in singing, dancing and music growing up which led her to UCLA on a scholarship to play the oboe. She tells us about her experience at UCLA and her decision to go to a coding bootcamp after graduation as opposed to searching for a job with her English Lit degree. Laura then describes the jobs she landed after bootcamp at Salesforce, Twitter, Meta and now GitHub and how LinkedIn played a huge role in helping her land these opportunities. Show Links Code Comments (sponsor) IRL (sponsor) STK AdTech Laura's GitHub Laura's Twitter Laura ThorsonLaura Thorson is a program manager, former engineer and design enthusiast who loves developing technical programs and scaling them for optimal impact. Currently, she manages GitHub's third-party, community global sponsorship presence and the Speaker Bureau program. In her spare time, she can be found watercoloring at the beach with her husband and son in sunny Southern California.

In this week’s episode, Saron chats with Beau Carnes, Director of Technology Education at freeCodeCamp. Beau shares insights into his career trajectory, which began in television and digital media production. After gaining initial experience in this industry, he transitioned to work in education as a teacher. Beau speaks on his experiences within both these professions and speaks on his decision to venture into technology, establishing himself as a proficient software developer. During this conversation, Beau shares his reasoning for getting three degrees, finding the motivation to learn to code while balancing the demands of a full-time job, and sending out cold emails for his first job in tech. Show Links Code Comments (sponsor) IRL (sponsor) FAANG Beau's GitHub Beau's Twitter FreeCodeCamp JavaScript Beau CarnesBeau is a software developer and teacher. He manages the freeCodeCamp.org YouTube channel and creates many resources to help people learn software development.

In this episode, Saron chats with Lead Web Developer, Sarah Greer. Sarah talks about her coding journey and how she juggled her passion for coding through freelancing while homeschooling her children. Sarah talks about why it was so important to her to learn to code and to have a career outside of having the title of “mom”. She also shares her experience going from freelancing to working full-time and the reasoning behind the switch. Show Links Code Comments (sponsor) IRL (sponsor) CSS HTML JavaScript Sarah GreerSarah was a freelance developer for 9 years, working mostly at night while homeschooling her kids. She’s now working in her dream job as the lead web developer for a growing marketing company.

This week, Saron talks with Camille Eddy, Technical Product Manager. Camille talks about her life growing up as a Pastor’s child, how she started and grew her business, and when she first found her passion for tech. Camille also shares her experience overcoming a fear of public speaking, and why it enabled her not only to travel the world but also land internships at companies like Google X, NVIDIA, and HP Labs all before graduating. Saron also talks to Camille about when she was asked to introduce President Obama. Camille concludes with principles she would lead with if she was a career transitioner looking to start her career in tech today. Show Links Code Comments (sponsor) IRL (sponsor) Project Manager Product Manager Robotics Engineering Artificial Intelligence Camille's GitHub Camille's Instagram Camille's Twitter Camille EddyCamille is a Technical Project/Product Manager with experience working in robotics and with SaaS products. She previously interned at Google X, NVIDIA, and HP Labs before graduating with a Mechanical Engineering degree in 2020.

Saron chats with Judith Lung, Software Engineer at LinkedIn. Judith shares how she found herself in tech after initially getting her masters in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Judith talks about her experience learning to code as someone who is blind and the changes she aims to make in the tech space to aid in the progression of tech accessibility. Show Links Compiler (sponsor) Judith's GitHub Judith's LinkedIn edX Edge freeCodeCamp Assistive Technology Department of Rehabilitation IDE Screen Reader Judith LungJudith is an accessibility engineer with a background in English, rehabilitation counseling, and assistive technology. She is passionate about using technology to create inclusive experiences and opportunities for people of all abilities.

Saron chats with Stefi Rosca, Frontend Engineer at Typeform. Stefi talks about their path to breaking into tech in their later twenties after having a fulfilling career in marketing. They also talk about the communities they joined to help motivate and encourage them along the way and how they leveled up in the tech space. Show Links Compiler (sponsor) Stefi's Website Stefi's GitHub Stefi's LinkedIn Stefi's X Account The Recurse Center Codebar freeCodeCamp C Stefi Rosca👩‍💻 Frontend Developer, 🌍 Traveler and ⛷️ Skier Stefi Rosca is from Romania and currently lives in Barcelona. They are a specialty coffee lover, skier, traveler, wannabe triathlete, and someone who might spend too much time watching YouTube videos.

Saron sits down with Rachel Nabors again. They talk about what Rachel has been up to since they were last on the show in 2017, the inside scoop of Big Tech, and Rachel’s experience working for organizations such as Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft. You’ll also hear why Rachel has decided their next chapter will be at a startup and what they are hoping for in their future. Show Links Compiler (sponsor) See Rachel at React Brussels (Oct 13) See Rachel at React JS Day, Verona (Oct 27) See Rachel at City JS Berlin (Nov 3) See Rachel at React Summit NYC (Nov 13 - 15) Animation at Work Wiggly Goose Club Rachel's 2017 CodeNewbie Episode Rachel's 2014 CodeNewbie Episode Rachel's Instagram Rachel's Twitter Rachel's GitHub Rachel's Website Web Animations API React Rachel Lee NaborsRachel Nabors lives to teach the world to code so others may create a future we can all believe in. They spearheaded the new React and React Native docs at react.dev and reactnative.dev and are consulting in this space after leading developer education at AWS Amplify.

In this episode, Saron sits down with Brian Jenney, Senior Software Engineering Manager at Clorox. Saron talks to Brian about his struggles with addiction, how he changed his life and turned a new leaf with coding and sobriety, and how his go-getter personality has served him well and continues to play a role in his current success. They also talk about what being a leader looks like and the ways in which you can become a leader regardless of the challenges life throws at you. Show Links Compiler (sponsor) GitHub YouTube LinkedIn X Instagram AngularJS C# JS Code Coach Brian JenneyBrian is a software engineering manager who transitioned into tech at 30. He is a JavaScript enthusiast who enjoys teaching and mentoring others and runs a business teaching others how to code and accelerate their developer careers.