Develop Yourself

Most engineers have read a lot about AI and built almost nothing with it. That is not a character flaw. It is the default.Stanford's AI Index puts numbers on the gap: a tiny fraction of households actually pay for AI tools, while nearly every company claims to be using it. Somebody is lying, and it is not the people quietly getting on with their jobs.This episode is about closing that gap. Two levels of leverage, both available to you without permission from anyone.Level one is team strategy. Skills, plugins, and shared config so your team stops solving the same problem fifteen different ways.Level two is connecting these tools to things that actually matter at your company. Your data, your documentation, your internal systems, with a human still in the loop where it counts.Plus why running a hackathon is the fastest way to find the problem worth solving, and what happened when I did it.Want to build this stuff instead of reading about it? Parsity's AI engineering program: https://parsity.io/ai-dev

Want to actually build agents and RAG systems like the ones I mention in this episode? That's exactly what we do inside Parsity's AI engineering program: https://parsity.io/ai-devI've been coding for nearly 12 years, I own and operate a coding bootcamp, and I've done over 1,000 free phone calls with people trying to break into tech. So this is the harsh advice I'd give you if you were my own kid. The stuff I can't really say on LinkedIn without getting flamed by people who've never worked a day in tech.The market for juniors is rough right now. That part is true. But most people trying to break in are doing the exact same thing as everyone else: building the same to-do app, obsessing over green dots on their GitHub, slapping "passionate junior developer" on their resume, and smashing LinkedIn easy-apply 1,000 times. That's your competition. And it's beatable.In this episode:Why "look junior, act passionate, wait for someone to take a chance on you" is a losing strategyHow to build real, verifiable experience when you have none (start an LLC, get actual users, stop building toy apps)The one skill that actually matters now, and why "I use Claude" is table stakes, not a differentiatorWhy agents and RAG are still wide open. Even senior and staff engineers mostly aren't doing this yetWhere the jobs actually are (small businesses and startups are hiring, big tech is slashing) and how to find them off LinkedInThe LinkedIn search-ranking trick most people ignoreWhy your timeline might take 2, 3, even 4 years, and why the ROI math still makes it worth itStop outsourcing your brain to ChatGPT before you've even built the skillTake it all with a grain of salt. It's one opinion. But I'll never tell you to do something I haven't done myself or seen work firsthand.Free resources I mention:Parsity AI Engineering Program: https://parsity.io/ai-devFree 5-Day AI Advisory Board course (build agents + RAG hands-on): https://www.parsity.io/5-day-ai-advisory-boardFree RAG project (better than most paid ones): https://www.parsity.io/ai-with-ragThe agent project I mention: https://www.parsity.io/ai-agentGusto Small Business Jobs Report (hundreds of thousands of net new small-business jobs this year): https://gusto.com/resources/gusto-insights/smb-jobs-report-june-2026My video on the entry-level hiring collapse, "Entry-level jobs didn't disappear. They moved. Got a question or something you want me to cover? Drop it in the comments. I get tons on YouTube but almost none on Spotify, and this is where the hardcore Develop Yourself crew lives. Comment away, it genuinely helps the show get found.

Learn to build AI systems that companies actually pay for: RAG, agents, production LLM apps. Not YouTube tutorial toys. Real projects with a dedicated mentor who's shipped this stuff at scale. Spots are capped at 10 per cohort: https://parsity.io/ai-devWho should software engineers marry? Not another software engineer, apparently.Samir Ranjan is the CTO and Director of Data Science at Catenate, where he built a patented platform that measures soft skills and personality to predict career outcomes. Translation: he has receipts on what actually gets engineers hired, promoted, and passed over.We get into:The 2 traits that separate good engineers from average ones (spoiler: it's not knowing every tool)Why "learning ability" beats technical knowledge in the AI eraThe age group struggling most with AI adoption (it's not who you think)What the data really says about junior devs getting replacedThe new job roles coming by 2027: AI orchestrators and agent managersWhy engineers should learn an art form (seriously)His weirdly practical advice for introverts: dress up and go to TargetWho software engineers should actually marrySamir went from mining engineering a thousand feet underground to building AI career tools. If you're trying to make sense of a chaotic job market, this one's full of stuff you can actually use.Connect with Samir on LinkedIn and check out Catenate.Connect with me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenneyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brianjenney

Ready to build production AI skills? Check out the Parsity AI Engineering program: https://parsity.io/parsityhomeToo many people think getting to senior engineer means grinding LeetCode and memorizing every design pattern known to man.Wrong.I went from bootcamp grad in my thirties to senior engineer to engineering manager, and the thing that got me promoted had almost nothing to do with writing better code.In this episode I break down what senior engineers actually do differently: how they think about problems, why they say no more than they say yes, and the uncomfortable truth that your communication skills matter more than your ability to reverse a linked list.If you've been stuck at mid-level wondering what the secret handshake is, this one's for you. Spoiler: there's no handshake. Just a mindset shift most developers never make.What you'll hear:Why "better coder" is the wrong goal entirelyThe skill that actually separates seniors from everyone elseHow to get senior-level trust before you have the titleWhat I screwed up on my own path (so you don't have to)Connect with me:Parsity AI Engineering: https://parsity.io/ai-devYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brianjenney

Want to become an AI engineer? Learn the exact skills companies are hiring for at Parsity: parsity.io/ai-devEveryone's screaming that AI is coming for frontend developers. Mauro Accorinti thinks most of them are missing the point.In this episode I sit down with Mauro, the writer behind Exceptional Frontend, to talk about why "frontend" is way more defensible than the doomers want you to believe. Spoiler: it was never just about centering a div.We get into:Why "irreplaceable" is a skill, not a job title. AI can spit out components all day. It still can't translate messy business problems into something a real human wants to use. That gap is where your value lives.The business-impact thing nobody teaches you. Mauro's whole thing is helping devs connect their technical work to outcomes the company actually cares about. Turns out "I shipped a feature" and "I moved the number that pays everyone's salary" are very different sentences.Is frontend actually dying, or is mediocre frontend dying? (Hint.)How to think about your career when the AI overlord keeps moving the goalposts. Practical stuff, not vibes.If you write code for a living and you've felt that low-grade panic every time a new model drops, this one's for you.Check out Mauro's newsletter: exceptionalfrontend.substack.com

Build AI systems at Parsity.I joined a fast-paced AI startup in early 2025 where the non-technical CEOs pushed an “AI-first” mandate—“twice as much in half the time with less people” and it turned into vibe-coding chaos. I'm still using AI to write 90% of my code with a very different approach on my new team.If you're feeling the pressure to "move faster" with AI, then this one's for you.

Build AI systems. Build leverage in your career. Apply for Parsity's AI Engineer CohortStability is a myth, and chasing it might be the riskiest thing you do in your whole career. Here's how to use risk on purpose instead.Everyone says find a stable job and hold on tight. That's the worst advice in tech, and I've got the receipts.The "safe" path is a trap. Here's how taking the right risks (job hopping, betting on AI early, volunteering for stuff you can't do yet) actually builds real security.

Connect with Salil here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salil-monga/If you're trying to make the jump into AI engineering, join Parsity: https://parsity.io/ai-devSalil Monga had a 4.0 GPA, applied to over 1,000 jobs, and landed three interviews. Not one of the jobs he actually got came from those applications.I sat down with Salil, now CTO of Cupe Connect, to dig into how you actually get hired in a difficult market: warm connections over cold applications, fundamentals over chasing the "golden stack," and why he walked into an interview thinking JavaScript was Java and still walked out with the offer.What we get into:- The 1,000-applications, 3-interviews reality, and why the applications were the wrong game to begin with- How every job he landed came from a professor or a peer, not a job board- Getting emotionally wrecked by applications, and the strategic mindset that fixes it- Using AI to actually learn instead of copy-pasting answers, and how he taught students to do the same- Why there's no golden stack, and how he shipped an iOS app having never built one before- Why fundamentals and problem-solving beat the framework of the month- How LeetCode quietly came back as a hiring filter, and how to treat it like one instead of hating it- Treating interviews as a game of chance you can tilt in your favor with rapport- Cube Connect: his no-algorithm, 50-meter-radius iOS app built to get people talking in real life againSalil is one of the more generous guests I've had on. He literally offered to review resumes and talk shop with anyone who reaches out, so go take him up on it.

A few spots left for Parsity's AI Engineer Cohort. Apply hereI told candidates they could use Claude, Cursor, anything they wanted in their AI engineering interview. Half of them still cheated. Badly.I break down what cheating looked like and why you should re-consider it if you're thinking about it... even if you don't have any moral qualms against it 😅

Build AI engineering skills at Parsity. Spots filling fast.It's been a rough week. Meta just laid off 8,000 people, and then the CEO of ClickUp — a company most people have never heard of — went online to brag about cutting 20-something percent of his staff even though they're profitable. No financial pressure. Just vibes. Just "AI made our engineers 100X more capable" so we don't need these people anymore. Then he had the nerve to talk about million-dollar salary bands for the survivors while publicly dunking on the people he just fired.I'm not here to cover the Meta layoffs. There are a hundred channels doing that. I'm here to talk about the people nobody covers: the developer at the 50-person company who gets two weeks and a Slack message. The person who doesn't have a FAANG brand on their resume to fall back on. That's who I was when I got laid off in 2023.In this episode I get into what actually happened when I got canned - the Zoom call with the person you've never seen before, the access revocation, the immediate panic. What I did right after (not much). What I did wrong (a lot). The psychological damage that nobody talks about, and the things I wish somebody had told me before I spent weeks spiraling.This isn't a "5 tips to be layoff-proof" episode. I don't think layoff-proof exists. This is what it actually feels like, what actually helps, and what I'd do differently if it happened again tomorrow. Because it might. Your company doesn't have any loyalty to you, no matter how good things seem right now.If you're going through it, you're not alone.

8 spots left in the AI engineer cohort. Join here: https://parsity.io/ai-developerEver get that feeling you're the worst developer on your team? And worse - that it's not in your head, you actually are the weakest link in the room?I've been on both ends. I've been the best developer on the team, and I've been objectively the worstAnd here's the thing nobody tells you: they're each worse than you'd expect, just in different ways.In this episode I get into what being the best actually cost me, why being the worst is psychologically brutal but might be the best thing for your career, and the one reframe that turned it around for me.

Free interview prep guide: ⁠https://www.parsity.io/interview-prep⁠Free career roadmap for developers: ⁠https://www.parsity.io/career-roadmap⁠Carter Nadain spent four years trying to break into software development. He started with a bootcamp in 2022, got his CS degree, worked at Amazon delivering packages, sent out thousands of applications, and went through every kind of setback you can imagine — including having to move back in with his mom at 25 and completely restart his life.In this episode, Carter shares what actually worked: the interview tip that landed his current job, why recording yourself talking through problems is the most underrated prep strategy, and how he stayed consistent for four years when most people quit after three months.We also get into imposter syndrome, what it's really like walking into your first dev job, and why this career rewards people who refuse to stop.

Join the free weekly live session: parsity.io/aiHope I don't regret this.I'm giving away the exact AI engineering curriculum I teach at Parsity. The same stuff that helped change my own career trajectory and has recruiters sliding all in my DMs.How LLMs actually work (and why knowing this helps you push back on the hype)RAG from scratch — embeddings, vector databases, chunking strategiesBuilding with Pinecone, Weaviate, or QdrantStructured outputs with Zod + OpenAI/Anthropic SDKsObservability with LangSmithLLM-as-Judge evals so your agents don't silently degradeThere's a free project linked below where you build a LinkedIn writing clone using my actual posts and articles as training data. No fluff, no theory. Just build the thing.💅 Free RAG project: https://www.parsity.io/ai-with-rag

Register for my live event on how you can build practical AI skills to give you an unfair advantage in the job market: parsity.io/aiI am so sick of the doom and gloom narrative. Things are tough, but not impossible.If you're treating the job market like it's 2019, you're setting yourself up for failure.Let's go over LinkedIn (so cringe, I know), interviews, networking without being weird and the side project you need to build.You can grab my FREE interview prep material here: https://parsity.io/interview-prep

A few years ago, my advice to developers would've been simple: learn the fundamentals, get good at system design, master your language of choice. And honestly? That advice still feels good to give. But it doesn't feel right anymore.Knowing how to code is table stakes now. It's not enough to get you hired.In this episode, I break down the three levels of AI skills I'd be investing in right now if I was a new grad, a bootcamp grad, or even a senior engineer looking to transition — and why the bar for "hireable" has shifted dramatically in the last few years.Level 1: Actually getting good at the tools. Not being a prompt monkey — having opinions on Claude, Cursor, git worktrees, and knowing why you accept or push back on what the agent gives you.Level 2: Building on top of AI. MCP servers, RAG pipelines, agents. This is where the biggest career opportunity is right now, and it's where the smallest pool of people actually know what they're doing.Level 3: The deep end: data engineering, pipelines, model hosting, fine-tuning. Less sexy, fewer positions, but massively defensible if you get in early.If you're trying to figure out where to put your time right now, this one's for you.

"There are only two kinds of languages: the ones people complain about, and the ones nobody uses."JavaScript gets a lot of hate—but it’s still everywhere for a reason.In this episode, I break down three underrated features: web workers, generator functions, and web components and how to use them in a practical way.Shameless plugs:Apply for our AI Engineer Cohort: https://parsity.io/ai-devApply for our software engineering program: https://parsity.io

I wrote a triple nested for loop that took down a grocery chain's ordering system. I broke buttons across multiple sites as a senior engineering manager at Clorox. And I've sat in rooms feeling like the dumbest engineer there — more than once.In this episode, I break down the three uncomfortable milestones every developer hits: wanting to stop being "the junior guy," shipping code that breaks production in spectacular fashion, and being the weakest engineer in the room. No fluff, no motivational poster garbage — just honest stories from 12+ years in the industry.AI won't save you from any of these. You just have to go through them.If you're in one of those moments right now, this one's for you.Want to level up? 👇Coding bootcamp for career switchersLearned Javascript the right way Break into AI engineering

Follow along with the project by going here: https://www.parsity.io/5-day-ai-advisory-boardIn this episode, I walk you through a side project that, if you actually build it, will put you ahead of roughly 90–95% of software developers right now.Most developers are using AI tools. Very few are actually building with them.So instead of talking about it, we build something real.The project is an AI advisory board — a system where you can ask questions like:What would Theo Browne say about Node?What would ThePrimeagen say about Vim?What would Alex Hormozi say about sales?What would I say about testing?And instead of generic AI responses, you get answers grounded in real transcripts and real opinions.We go step-by-step through:Calling an LLM programmatically (Gemini API)Setting up a backend route to handle requestsAdding system prompts and guardrailsBuilding a simple knowledge basePulling in real YouTube transcriptsInjecting data into the model at the right time (naive RAG)This is the kind of project that forces you out of “AI user” mode and into actually building AI-powered products.

Resources mentioned 👇parsity.io/ai-with-ragThe Router Pattern – A Smarter WayI mentioned that I got a lot more requests for interviews. Here's the proof: Da Proof3 Ways We Work with Software Developers (and noobs) 👇AI Dev Program – parsity.io/ai-devApply for our full stack software engineering programLearn JavaScript in 30 days... the hard way

I created a free project for developers who want to learn AI the hard way: https://parsity.io/ai-with-ragI don't envy new coders. AI is being jammed down your throat and at the same time, you're being told you must understand the code it generates.It's a confusing time.Using AI too early comes with a cost. More importantly, we'll look at some proven ways to make sure you are learning deeply and can work efficiently with your little code bot.You can read the study from Anthropic here: https://www.anthropic.com/research/AI-assistance-coding-skills

If you're curious about Bryan's strategy, you can apply to work with him here: 👉 Application form.The tech job market is brutal right now. Everyone knows it.People are sending hundreds of applications, getting ghosted, and wondering what the hell is actually going on behind the scenes of hiring.So in this episode I sat down with Bryan, someone I met on LinkedIn and later met up with in Reno, and he shared something that honestly blew my mind.Last year he did what most people do:Around 250 applications over 8 months… and almost no interviews.This year he completely changed his approach.Instead of blasting applications everywhere, he used a targeted strategy and applied to only 58 roles.That turned into 16 interviews across 9 companies and multiple final rounds.Yeah… that got my attention.In this conversation we talk about what he’s seeing on the front lines of the hiring market, including:Why most resumes never get seenWhat hiring managers are actually filtering forThe mistake developers make in behavioral interviewsWhy STAR stories matter way more than people thinkThe reality of DSA interviews and why speed mattersWhy applying to the “right level” can dramatically increase your chancesAnd why job searching is really a game of probabilityIf you’ve been applying to jobs and feel like everything is disappearing into a black hole, this episode should help you understand how the hiring game actually works right now.And honestly, Brian’s story proves something important:You don’t need hundreds of companies to say yes.You just need one

In 2026, you can’t “avoid LinkedIn” and expect to get hired BUT you can't use it like 2023. In this episode, I break down the exact LinkedIn + resume strategy I’d use today to maximize recruiter inbound, increase your surface area for luck, and stop making the most common mistakes that quietly kill your chances.We cover:Why “Aspiring Junior Developer” and “Open to Work” often backfireHow to make your first visible experience look software-related (even if you’re career-switching)The keyword/tech-stack problem that makes you invisible in recruiter searchA simple formula to improve your resumeWhy “learn in public” is optional now—and what to do insteadThe fastest way to hit 500+ connections (without cringe networking)The 80/20 application approach: when to “Easy Apply” vs when to go aggressiveMessaging tactics that stand out in a world of AI-generated slopA realistic volume target (and what to change if you’re getting zero responses)If you want a practical plan to start getting interviews again—this is it.

Brian sits down with Fardeen Khimani, a 21-year-old Georgia Tech ML student and co-founder of Rounds, to talk about why technical interviews are broken and why AI just made it worse. They cover why LeetCode is dying, why companies have no idea how to respond, and what skills actually matter now. Fardeen's take: if AI can pass an interview that maps to the real job, just hire the AI.Find Fardeen: linkedin.com/in/fardeenkhimani

AI didn’t kill software jobs.But it did throw a grenade into the hiring funnel.In this episode, I break down 8 harsh truths about getting hired as a developer in 2026 — and none of them are the feel-good LinkedIn advice you’re used to hearing.Why vibe coding isn’t a careerWhy no one cares about your certificateWhy your portfolio probably doesn’t matterWhy full stack is now the baselineWhy AI productivity claims are mostly nonsenseWhy waiting until you feel “ready” is killing your momentumWhy titles matter more than people admitAnd why hiring is broken — but not hopelessThis isn’t theory. I’m sharing what I’ve seen as a hiring manager, what I’ve seen in interviews, and what I’ve seen work for developers I’ve mentored.The market isn’t dead.But the rules have changed.If you want to land your first job — or level up in this AI-first world — you need to understand what actually matters now.If you’re serious about switching careers and becoming a software developer, go to parsity.io or schedule a chat using the link in the show notes.

Disclaimer: this episode is my thoughts on coding bootcamps and online education and where Parsity is going in the future.If you're interested in either of the programs I mentioned in this you can check them out here:Parsity AI AcceleratorFull Stack Accelerator

Should you get a computer science degree, enroll in a coding bootcamp, or teach yourself how to code?You’re probably not going to love the answer… but it depends.In this episode, I shares my unfiltered, experience-backed take after working with hundreds of aspiring developers and hiring developers myself.Let's breaks down what actually matters when trying to land your first software job — and where each path (college, bootcamp, or self-taught) helps or hurts.Why a college degree might help… but often not for the reason you thinkWhen bootcamps give you an edge — and where they fall shortThe uncomfortable truth about the “self-taught developer” mythHow hiring really works at startups vs big tech companiesWhy fundamentals and computer science matter more later in your careerHow AI is changing the skills new developers need to stay employableThe role of structure, accountability, and mentorship in actually getting hiredIf you’re trying to break into software development and feeling overwhelmed by all the options, this episode will help you choose a path based on your time, money, learning style, and career goals — not hype.If you are considering a coding bootcamp program, I encourage you to consider Parsity. Apply Here.

What if I had to break into tech today… with no degree, no connections, and a completely unrelated job?In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and self-taught developer Jeremy “Smitty” to map out exactly how we’d do it if we were starting from zero in 2026.We walk step-by-step through a realistic path from beginner to hireable — not theory, not hype, but the practical moves that actually work in today’s market.We cover:How to choose what to learn (without wasting years)The fastest way to build real, job-ready skillsHow to escape tutorial hell for goodWhen you’re actually ready to apply for jobsHow to create experience before anyone hires youThe smart way to network when you don’t know anyone in techWhy AI isn’t the career killer people think it isThe mindset shift that separates people who make it from those who quitIf you’ve ever thought:“I want a tech career, but I don’t know where to start”or“I’m stuck in a job that has nothing to do with coding”This episode gives you a clear, actionable roadmap.You don’t need to be special.You don’t need a CS degree.You just need the right plan — and the consistency to follow it.Shameless Plugs:1. Become an AI engineer. In 45 days, you'll learn the specific skills and technologies to transition from full stack to AI. We use project-based-learning and the teach-back method to accelerate your learning. Apply here. If you're a CTO or engineering manager, this is the program your team needs BEFORE you drop 200K+ on an AI engineer. Reply "AI" to learn more about how we can make your roadmap a reality. 2. Become a hireable software engineer in 2026. Follow a proven system to go from 0 to HIRED with 1 on 1 mentorship and project-based-learning. Take the self-assessment test here to see if you're ready to join.

The hiring bar for junior developers has changed, and pretending it hasn’t will only slow your career. Let's break down a simple strategy to beat the “no experience” trap: Ship a small product you intend to sell, get one or two real users, and use those lessons to tell stronger stories in interviews. Instead of another tutorial portfolio, you’ll learn to show autonomy, reliability, and ownership—the exact traits teams are optimizing for in tighter markets.By the end, you’ll know how to replace vague “potential” with proof of autonomy: shipped features, hard-earned trade-offs, and stories that map directly to the realities of modern teams.Resources:Side project planner: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uJ5Bom0WmS410K5B2m5TkbZ7d1G9BdTaX4nKprYschI/editSide project video: https://youtu.be/2TWioJCIaxESend us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

AI is writing more code than ever, layoffs are everywhere, and it feels like software careers might be disappearing. In this episode, we explore why that narrative is misleading—and what’s actually changing in tech.We break down why learning to code still matters, how to use AI without becoming dependent on it, and which core skills will help you stay relevant as the industry evolves. If you’re trying to make sense of the noise and figure out how to move forward in software development, this episode is here to help you navigate what’s next.If you want to join our next cohort to learn AI through project based learning - sign up here: https://parsity.io/ai-devSend us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Grab your free interview prep crash course here: https://parsity.io/interview-prepWhiteboard interviews aren’t broken — most candidates just prepare for them the wrong way. This episode shows why copying Big Tech interview prep is a trap and walks through three algorithm patterns that consistently appear in everyday software interviews. It’s a no-nonsense roadmap for learning just enough DSA to pass interviews without wasting years on theory.Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit."Habits beat motivation; small, daily actions reshape identity and make success inevitable without relying on willpower.The problem is that most people create goals with no system in place. They rely on raw, fragile willpower and motivation and then wonder why they fail.Let's explore how to make habits that actually stick to give you the best possible chance of success in the new year.Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Grab this project to learn the basics of RAG and working with agents https://www.parsity.io/ai-with-rag2025 was one of the most confusing years to be a software developer.We were told AI would replace us.Then we were told it would make us 10× more productive.Neither actually happened — but the hype affected careers, hiring, education, and mental health in real ways.In this episode, I break down the 5 worst tech trends of 2025, based on what I saw firsthand as a working engineer and bootcamp owner — layoffs that never stopped, juniors getting squeezed out, AI being used as a crutch, the collapse of coding bootcamps, and the biggest lie in tech: the AI productivity myth.Then we flip the script.I also cover the best trends that quietly emerged and how I’m personally planning to take advantage of them going into 2026 — from AI agents and coding tools that actually help, to why generalist engineers and system-level thinking are winning again.If you’re:A junior developer trying to break inA senior wondering how AI really affects your careerOr just tired of LinkedIn hype and doom headlinesNo magic prompts. No fake roadmaps. Just reality — and a practical way forward.Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

I want to offer you some politically incorrect career advice that the gurus on LinkedIn won't share with you.From job hopping to the #1 skill you need as a developer: I cover the things that helped me go from struggling bootcamp grad to engineering manager.Resources mentioned in the pod:My article outlining my salary jumps through interviewing: https://brianjenney.medium.com/i-used-to-suck-at-coding-interviews-then-i-quadrupled-my-salary-9d5260389a09Here's your templates for writing on LinkedIn: https://www.parsity.io/learning-in-publicMerry Christmas!!!Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

We’re in a strange moment right now.The AI bubble is showing signs of popping and the tech industry is waking up from a long night of partying.We were told to “do more with less” and “just use AI” for the past 12 months.After spending a year building production systems this way, I can tell you there’s a growing gap between what people think AI can do and what it actually does.To say I’m annoyed with the media and talking heads online is an understatement.It is really starting to boil my potato.Here are my takeaways after grinding on a 5 person team to build a product using AI.🚨If you're interested in learning how to REALLY work with AI as a software developer - apply for our new program for working developers who want to learn AI: parsity.io/AIDevSend us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

In this episode of the Develop Yourself Podcast, I talk with three email and growth experts about something most developers overlook: email as a serious  money maker.I’m joined by:Mike, founder of Seventh Sense, an AI-powered email timing platformBoris, Senior Digital Marketing Manager at Educative, one of the largest developer learning platformsDoug, CEO of Optimize 3.0, a HubSpot Diamond Partner agencyWe dig into:How AI is reshaping email marketingWhy email is still the most reliable channel you can ownThe biggest email marketing mistakes that founders and developers makeWhat it actually takes to build a product that sells—not just one that worksAnd real advice for developers who want to turn skills into a business🎙 Guest LinkedIn ProfilesMike Donnelly — Founder, Seventh Sensehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedonnelly1/Boris Robles-Slyusar — Senior Digital Marketing Manager, Educativehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/borisslyusar/Doug Kirk — CEO, Optimize 3.0https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglastkirk/🏢 Company PagesSeventh Sense (AI-powered email timing platform)https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-seventh-sense/https://www.seventhsense.ai/Educative (developer learning platform)https://www.linkedin.com/company/educative-inc/https://www.educative.io/Optimize 3.0 (HubSpot Diamond Partner agency)https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimize-3-0/https://optimize3-0.com/Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

I lay out the project with tons of resources right here 👇https://brianjenney.medium.com/your-learning-roadmap-to-become-a-software-developer-2e15e1ce1e22Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Amber argues that the biggest problem facing new developers isn’t coding ability…It’s lack of real experience, and an over-reliance on feel-good advice that doesn’t translate into hireability.We dig into:Why contributing to real, medium-complexity open-source projects is the fastest path to becoming job-readyWhy most juniors aren’t actually hireable yet — and how to fix thatHow toxic positivity on LinkedIn is misleading beginnersWhy “passion” means nothing if it isn’t backed by proof-of-workThe kinds of projects and habits that actually impress hiring managersThe mindset shift every junior dev must make to survive today’s marketWhat Amber wishes she knew as a brand-new developerHow to stand out when 30,000 other bootcamp grads are competing for the same jobsIf you’re early in your software career — or mentoring someone who is — this conversation will challenge your assumptions, push you out of the fluff zone, and give you a clear, actionable roadmap to becoming the type of junior developer who actually gets hired.Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeOpen Source Projects & Communities:Dance-Chives Prototype (Amber’s breakdancing app project): https://github.com/BenTheChi/dance-chives-prototypeBuild In Public community: https://buildinpublic.com/Gridiron Survivor project: https://github.com/LetsGetTechnical/gridiron-survivorMentorship:ADPList (free mentorship sessions): https://adplist.org/Connect With Amber:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-adamson-a33a3860/Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Am I too old to learn how to code?If you're alive then the answer is NO.BUT, you are going to need a different game plan than your 22 year old co-workers if you want this to work.I was 31 when I got my first job as a coder. Here's what worked for me and others I've taught over the years.Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

There are some major changes coming to Parsity and this podcast. As a listener, I appreciate you sincerely for listening and I want to extend the largest discount we've ever done for our 30 day Javascript program. It's usually $49 but I'm reducing it to $10.Complete the 30 days and you got yourself a $1400 discount to Parsity's software engineering program.👉 Join Dev30 👈I want to hear from you! What are the guests and topics you want in 2026?Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

"We don't really need developers any more""In 2 years, the tools will be so good, that no one will be writing code""Learn a trade bro"I've heard all of these phrases in the last week and it's honestly getting to me. Too often, the people with the loudest microphones have the least experience with the tools we're using.Besides being a talking head on a podcast, I'm also a father and full time software developer. I made this episode not only to vent about why AI hype is so dangerous but why the future isn't as bleak as the mainstream media is leading us to believe.Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Ryan is a current student at Parsity who build an app for his employer, Smoothie King, to suggest drinks in a chat interface using a powerful and lesser-known AI technology: RAG.RAG stands for retrieval augmented generation. Basically, providing information (like smoothie recipes) to an AI model so it can return a highly specific response.Ryan breaks down how he finds the time to build side projects like this and how he built this app.Want to build your own AI-powered app? Check out this project: parsity.io/ai-with-ragConnect with Ryan here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhardin378/Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

You’ll learn the six core JS skills to master before frameworks, why TC39 keeps changing the language, and how to test your skills with a challenge you can access below.👉 Try out the JS Form Challenge. 👈We also cover:Why hiring trends still test JavaScript, even when jobs say ReactHow to think like a developer: requests, responses, and UI updatesThe fastest way to level up without AI shortcutsA way to test your JS skillsSend us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Let's be honest - interviews suck.But you can't suck at them.In this episode I break down what your next interview as a junior developer will LIKELY include.Your mileage will vary.Grab the interview guide below which includes a playback of a live event that Parsity recently hosted and a ton of resources: https://brianjenney.substack.com/p/the-junior-dev-interview-guideSend us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Thinking about learning to code with ChatGPT, Cursor, or Copilot?Hit pause for ten minutes.In this episode, I break down why AI isn’t replacing developers but it is making it harder to learn. You’ll learn the right time to start using AI as a beginner, how to avoid outsourcing the struggle that builds real skill, and the “teach-back” method that can boost your learning retention by up to 90%.Referenced study: https://budgetlab.yale.edu/research/evaluating-impact-ai-labor-market-current-state-affairsSend us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Original article: https://medium.com/@wlockett/you-have-no-idea-how-screwed-openai-actually-is-8358dccfca1cYour AI engineer starter project: https://parsity.io/ai-with-ragSend us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Grab the templates for posting to LinkedIn here: https://www.parsity.io/learning-in-publicI’ve grown from 0 to nearly 40K followers on LinkedIn with barely any viral posts, and along the way I learned how the platform really works. In this episode, I’m breaking down the exact strategy junior developers are using right now to get recruiters to notice them and get hired faster.So if you’ve hit “Easy Apply” until your fingers hurt and still don't have any interviews, this is for you! I’ll show you the simple LinkedIn system that can get you hired without begging strangers for referrals or posting daily “grindset” nonsense.Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

👉 Your adult time audit worksheet 👈I get it.There is no time. You have kids, maybe adult dependents or a really good show you're binging in between our slow descent into a dystopian reality.I don't believe in fluff.Let's cover a practical guide on learning to code as a busy adult and some of the easy (and not so easy) steps you're going to need to take.Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Let's weigh college, bootcamps, and the self-taught route with blunt pros and cons, then map each path to market realities, hiring filters, and long-term growth. The goal is to help you choose a route that gets you hired faster without stalling your career later.• how degrees are used as filters and where they matter• why top-tier schools win on internships and networks• the gap between CS theory and practical stacks• when bootcamps accelerate outcomes and where they fall short• self-taught pitfalls and how to add structure and accountability• coastal vs mid-market hiring differences and pay signals• skills startups test versus what larger firms test• the minimum effective dose for a hireable portfolio• why fundamentals compound value in years three to five• how AI raises the premium on first principlesSend us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

I just quit my job as a senior AI developer, and while helping hire my replacement, I realized how few people actually know how AI apps work. In this episode, I walk through Retrieval-Augmented Generation step by step—the same system I built at work—and show you the real skills developers need right now.👉 Grab a hands-on project with a video you can follow along with here 👈Hold your spot in the January cohort and become the go-to person in your organization for integrating AI into your web applications. Hold spot hereSend us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Just give up?Everyone says no one’s hiring junior developers anymore — but is that actually true?In this episode, I sit down with recruiter David Roberts to uncover what’s really happening in the job market, why most applicants are getting filtered out, and what you can do differently to land your first role.We break down the biggest myths about entry-level tech jobs, how recruiters actually think, and the skills that make you stand out in 2025.Don't learn to code, learn to build complex software and get hired: https://parsity.ioAlready know how to code? Get help landing your first role: https://crushing.digital/Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI