Podcast Awesome

In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt  sits down with Font Awesome founder Dave Gandy to unpack what it really means to be a great employee and a great manager — without the “rockstar ninja unicorn” nonsense, micromanaging, or performative perks. Dave reframes the idea of a “lifestyle business” as a badge of honor (not a slight), explains why leadership matters more than the role you’re hired for, and shares practical ways to spot healthy management during interviews — plus what autonomy should actually look like inside a team that trusts each other.🗒️ What We Cover in This Episode💸 Why “lifestyle business” is often used as manipulation (and why it’s actually a badge of honor) 🧭 The #1 thing to evaluate in a job interview: leadership (not the role) 🧠 How to flip the interview script by asking better questions ⏱️ What micromanagement (“butt in seat” culture) really signals 🚩 Why “rockstar / ninja / unicorn” language can be a culture red flag 🔍 How to read “small signals” with inductive reasoning (not just deductive logic) 📸 The photo wall story: how tiny rules reveal big cultural problems 🧰 Why managing people is a craft (and how to learn it like one) 📚 Books + frameworks Dave recommends (Lencioni, Working Genius, Shape Up) 🧩 What healthy autonomy looks like in practice (and why “execute with excellence” is rare)⏱️ Timestamps0:00 - Cold Open: What Loyalty Really Costs 0:23 - Welcome + What This Episode Covers 0:53 - Lifestyle Business as a “Slight” (and the Trade-Offs) 2:00 - Lifestyle Business Myth: Manipulation vs. Real Bottom Lines 4:00 - Interview for Leadership: Why Your Boss Matters More Than the Role 6:00 - Managers & Autonomy: Hiring Adults and Treating Them Like Adults 8:00 - A “Butt in Seat” Culture (and Why It’s a Technical Leadership Smell) 10:00 - Sussing Out Culture: How to Ask the Unaskable Questions 12:00 - Lifestyle Business = Sanity (and Why Retention Is the Real Metric) 14:00 - Hard Interview Questions That Reveal Leadership 16:00 - Retention Without Perks: The Real “Perks” That Matter 18:00 - When Life Happens: The Loyalty Moment That Costs Something 22:00 - Rockstar / Ninja / Unicorn Language (and Flattery as a Red Flag) 24:00 - Bad Interviewer Psychology: “Gotcha” Certainty vs. Real Confidence 26:00 - Inductive vs Deductive Reasoning (and Why Nerds Miss the Signals) 28:00 - The Photo Wall Story: Tiny Rules, Big Control Problems 32:00 - Rockstar Culture Warning: Accountability and the “Rockstar Exception” 34:00 - Interview Like Dating: Standards, Curiosity, and Connection 36:00 - Botching Interviews When You Want It Too Much 37:00 - Management Is a Craft (Not Just a Promotion) 38:00 - Books & Frameworks: Lencioni + Working Genius + More 42:00 - Organizational Health Signals (Trust, Conflict, Clarity) 44:00 - Autonomy with Shape Up: Freedom Inside the Box 46:00 - Wrap-Up + Closing Thoughts🔗 Links & ResourcesPatrick Lencioni / The Table Group  Shape Up  Font Awesome: 🎶 The Font Awesome Theme Song – Composed by Ronnie Martin 🎸 Music Interstitials by Zach Malm 🎬 Produced and edited by Matt Johnson with some extra video editing help from Isaac ChaseStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Look Awesome: Solving Color Once and for AllLocking in the color palette for your project is one of those things that seems simple until you're actually doing it. Pick the wrong shade and your text is unreadable. Pick the right shade and it only works in Figma, not in your codebase, not in Tailwind, not anywhere that matters.Dave Gandy — Font Awesome founder, Kickstarter legend, self-described Nantucket color enthusiast — has been quietly building a tool to fix this mess. It's called Look Awesome, and it tackles color from three angles at once: the technical side (WCAG contrast math), the artistic side (palettes that actually look good), and yes, the genetic side (turns out not everyone sees color the same way, and there's a 100-dot test to prove it).This episode is an audio cut of a live demo Dave gave during the Build Awesome Kickstarter stream. He walks through how Look Awesome works, why he built it in under three weeks using modern AI tooling, and why he thinks this might be the most fun thing he's ever made. You'll also hear about NASA's brand guidelines, the color laws of Nantucket, and a binary search algorithm that finds the exact one shade of blue that satisfies both dark and light text contrast requirements.Fair warning: this is a color tool, so if you want to actually see the thing, head over to the YouTube channel. The link is in the show notes.What We CoverWhat Look Awesome is and why it existsThe three challenges of color: technical, artistic, and geneticThe Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue test and what it means for working with colorHow the palette-building math actually works (including that binary search)Theming once and getting it everywhere — Tailwind, Web Awesome, Claude's design.md, whereverHow Look Awesome fits into the Build Awesome workflowWhy Dave built this in under three weeks and what AI-assisted Build Week looked likeThe Nantucket color palette demo (10 seconds, one URL)Try It Look Awesome is live now at look.awesome.me. Dave wants to hear what's working — not just the bugs. Drop him a note at [email protected] to support the broader project? The Build Awesome Kickstarter is still running at build.awesome.me.Watch the full demo from the livestream! youtube.com/live/XBMSvupE7Bc?si=3Ow2B1I4pOAYnsb CreditsHosted, produced and edited by Matt JohnsonFeaturing Dave Gandy and Zach (from the Build Awesome livestream)Theme song by Ronnie MartinMusic interstitials by Zach MalmVideo editing by Isaac ChaseStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

AI makes it easier to build almost anything. So why does that make the job harder?In this episode, Matt sits down with Font Awesome founder Dave Gandy and engineer Travis Chase to get past the hype and into the real day-to-day of building with AI. The conversation covers what's actually changing on the team, where AI falls short, and what human skills matter more now than they did before.If you're a designer, developer, or anyone trying to figure out where you fit in a world where your output can suddenly go 10x — this one's worth your time. Dave and Travis don't pretend the answers are simple. They also don't pretend the concerns aren't real.Fair warning: Dave also makes a case for revisiting waterfall development. It's more convincing than it has any right to be.What We CoverWhy producing more means your quality bar has to get sharper, not looserThe discernment problem — when you can build anything, how do you decide what's worth building?Why saying no is now a more important skill than everThe strongest AI concerns Dave and Travis actually take seriously (energy, training data ethics, governance)Why AI seems to help people become more of who they already areHow to stay curious and useful during a major technology transition without chasing every squirrelTimestamps0:00 Cold open — from low-level to strategy0:38 Intro1:30 Where AI falls short right now2:00 Quality control when output explodes2:30 Taste, responsibility, and Jory's point at the snuggle3:00 The discernment problem and snacktivities4:20 Simplicity means saying no more than yes5:30 Chasing waterfalls — does waterfall development make a comeback?6:00 The strongest anti-AI arguments worth taking seriously6:45 Energy, ethics, and training data consent8:00 Technology's evolution and the genie that's out of the bottle9:00 The Industrial Revolution farmer analogy9:45 Superheroes, supervillains, and hiring for character first10:20 Two ditches: navigating between idealism and cynicism11:10 Rev share and what the world should look like11:45 Governance, compromise, and garbage design13:30 Washing machines and making more clean water14:00 Guiding principles for using AI internally15:00 Company behaviors as an AI framework: curious, humble, adventurous16:00 AI helps people become more of who they are16:45 AI will ask people to operate at a higher level18:00 Refusing to engage is the riskiest move of all19:00 We need critical voices — and we need them in the room20:00 Echo chambers, bad data, and the water story21:30 The world is hopeful — spend your life in wonder22:30 Home prices, colonizing planets, and the leap to the real world23:00 OutroCreditsHosted by Matt JohnsonFeaturing Dave Gandy and Travis ChaseProduced and edited by Matt JohnsonTheme song by Ronnie MartinMusic interstitials by Zach MalmVideo editing by Isaac Chase🔗 Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com 🔗 Check out episode one of the conversation! https://www.podcastawesome.com/2092855/episodes/19065993-build-week-what-we-made-part-1-with-dave-travis🔗 Podcast Awesome: https://podcastawesome.com#PodcastAwesome #FontAwesome #AI #DesignAndDevelopment #TechEthics #SoftwareDevelopmentStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

💻 AI side quests, but make it Snuggle. 🤖✨In this episode, we’re fresh off the Snuggle (our company retreat) and talking about what happens when you give a curious team some time, space… and a bunch of AI tools. Travis and Dave join us to share how experimenting with tools like G-Stack, Spec-Kit, and Claude helped us explore ideas, prototype faster, and take on projects we normally wouldn’t have time for.We get into the practical side of it all—what worked, what didn’t, and where AI actually fits into a creative workflow (without the hype). It’s part experiment recap, part philosophy, and part “what if we just tried it?”Whether you're building products, designing systems, or just curious how AI can fit into your process, this one’s for you.🎙️ What we cover in this episode:🧑‍🚀 Why we dedicated Snuggle time to AI exploration🧩 How tools like G-Stack, Spec-Kit, and Claude fit into real workflows💻 Using AI to prototype and pressure-test ideas quickly⚖️ The balance between human creativity and machine assistance🧠 What surprised us (and what didn’t)⏱️ Timestamps:00:00:00 – Welcome & Intro00:01:59 – What are Snacktivites?00:02:57 – Company Behaviors Framework00:04:16 – Build Week Explained00:05:00 – Travis's Thoughts on AI Shift00:08:05 – Ethics Over Slop00:08:31 – Education and Intent00:11:47 – Using AI as a Force Multiplier00:14:50 – Skills Files and Standards00:21:10 – Tooling Roundup: G-Stack, Spec-Kit, and more00:25:46 – Color Awesome Finale00:27:45 – Wrap Up ... To Be Continued in Part 2🔗 Links & resources:Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/Browse icons: https://fontawesome.com/iconsKits: https://fontawesome.com/kitsWeb Awesome: https://webawesome.com/Credits:🎵 Theme music by Ronnie Martin🎶 Interstitials by Zach MalmStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Job interviews aren’t just about proving you’re a fit — they’re about figuring out whether the company deserves you, too. 👀In this episode, Matt chats with Font Awesome founder Dave Gandy about why hiring is a two-way street. They unpack the red flags candidates should watch for, what healthy companies actually look like, and how the interview process can reveal way more than a polished mission statement ever will.Dave shares practical advice for job seekers on asking better questions, spotting dysfunctional hiring practices, and approaching the search with intention instead of desperation. They also dig into trust, team health, and why the best workplaces tend to value character just as much as capability.Whether you’re job hunting, hiring, or just trying to avoid ending up in a workplace that feels like a corporate escape room, this episode has plenty to chew on. 😅What we cover:Why hiring should be a two-way evaluationThe biggest red flags in interview processesWhat healthy organizations prioritizeWhy trust matters more than pure talentHow to ask smarter interview questionsWhy job seekers need a strategy, not just a stack of resumesHow to identify companies that are actually worth your timeTimestamps:00:00 – Why hiring is a two-way street02:00 – HR screenings, weird assessments, and early red flags05:10 – Desperation in job hunting and why standards still matter07:00 – What healthy companies really look like09:20 – How to flip the script and interview the company12:00 – Big companies, bad filters, and missing great candidates16:00 – Why knowing yourself matters before you start looking19:00 – Why spray-and-pray applications usually fall flat21:00 – The value of being “double T-shaped” in your career24:00 – Why the best opportunities often come through side doors25:00 – Building relationships before you need a job27:00 – How companies communicate values in the hiring process29:00 – The one thing a company needs to do differently30:00 – Wrap-up and outroCredits:Hosted by Matt JohnsonFeaturing Dave GandyProduced and edited by Matt JohnsonTheme song by Ronnie MartinMusic interstitials by Zach MalmVideo editing by Isaac ChaseWatch this episode on YouTube#Hiring #InterviewTips #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #Leadership #CompanyCulture #WorkplaceCulture #TechCareers #PodcastAwesome #FontAwesome 🚀Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Ed and Francis to talk through three newly shipped Font Awesome features that are small, practical, and just the right amount of fun. They dig into individual PNG downloads, a new global color picker for previewing icons in brand colors, and the wonderfully playful User Blender, which lets you mix and match heads, bodies, and styles to create custom user icons for your kit.Along the way, they unpack the thinking behind each feature, how these updates connect to Icon Wizard and the broader Font Awesome 7.2 release, and why shaving off a few annoying workflow steps can make life noticeably better for designers and developers. There’s also an unexpected side quest into Ed’s cameo in his son’s YouTube channel, because apparently every product update deserves a B-plot. 🎬If you want to actually see these features in action, there’s also an extended video version on YouTube with demos. But this audio-only episode still gives you the full behind-the-scenes story, the practical use cases, and all the delightful nerdery you’d expect from the Awesomeverse.What We Cover in This Episode🎨 How the new global color picker makes previewing icon colors much easier🖼️ Why individual PNG downloads are a handy addition for quick icon grabs🧑‍🚀 How User Blender lets you create custom user icons with random and manual combinations🧩 How these features build on ideas from Icon Wizard💻 Why small workflow improvements can have a big impact for teams🧪 How playful side projects sometimes turn into genuinely useful features🎬 Ed’s surprise side quest into low-budget cinematic gloryTimestamps00:00 Welcome to Podcast Awesome 00:20 Introducing the episode and today’s guests 00:45 The three new features: PNG downloads, color picker, and User Blender 01:10 Francis makes a Podcast Awesome debut 01:40 Looking back at Ed’s previous appearances and Icon Wizard history 02:10 Why individual PNG downloads were added 03:00 When and why someone might want PNG instead of SVG 04:10 The idea behind the new global color picker 05:00 Previewing brand colors across icon search results 05:40 Using the color picker on category pages and kits 06:10 Duotone controls, secondary colors, opacity, reset, and swatches 07:10 Reusing Web Awesome tools inside Font Awesome 07:50 How color settings carry over across different areas 08:20 How the color picker affects code snippets and icon styling 08:55 Meet User Blender 09:20 How randomizing and mixing custom user icons works 10:00 Available styles and future expansion plans 10:40 Why User Blender is both useful and toy-like in the best possible way 11:15 How the feature grew out of a snuggle and Icon Wizard success 12:00 A call for community creations and creative icon mashups 12:40 How these features fit into the Font Awesome 7.2 release 13:10 Ed’s unexpected acting career and his son’s YouTube side quest 14:00 Wrap-up and where to share your creationsYouTube episode with visual examples: https://youtu.be/NDsqZozkn3A Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/Browse Font Awesome Icons: https://fontawesome.com/iconsLearn about Kits: https://fontawesome.com/kitsExplore Web Awesome: https://webawesome.com/Contact the team: [email protected] music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/Interstitial music by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/BowziTV: https://www.youtube.com/@BowziTVStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Eleventy is becoming Build Awesome — and Zach Leatherman is here to explain what that actually means.In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt has a chat with Zach about the Build Awesome Kickstarter, why this rebrand is part of building a sustainable future for the open source project, and what changes (and what doesn’t) for people already running Eleventy sites.You’ll hear Zach break down the backwards compatibility promise, the Eleventy v3 → Build Awesome v4 upgrade path, and what Build Awesome Pro adds—especially for teams who want an easier publishing workflow and a smoother way for non-technical collaborators to edit content.Plus: behind-the-scenes stories from filming the Kickstarter video in LA, including the cast/crew magic, a hot dog cake, and the origin story of the Awesome 'Possum.🗒️ What We Cover in This Episode🚀 Eleventy is becoming Build Awesome (and why Zach says this is the sustainable future of the project) 🧩 What changes vs. what stays the same (and the “no panic” promise) 🔁 Backwards compatibility: your existing Eleventy sites still work ⬆️ Upgrade path: what moving from Eleventy v3 → Build Awesome v4 looks like 🧰 What Build Awesome is (website generation that can be simple or powerful) 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Build Awesome Pro: one-stop publishing + collab for non-technical editors ✍️ In-browser editing: fixing content directly on page w/o a separate CMS feel) 💸 Funding open source without burnout (+ why the “Font Awesome formula” works) 🎬 Kickstarter fun: filming in LA, cast/crew magic, and the cake/hot dog metaphor 🦝 Meet the Awesome 'Possum (mascot origins + brand homage) 🎁 How to support: tiers, swag, and where to go next⏱️ Timestamps0:00 - Cold Open: Build Awesome Kickstarter Announcement 0:08 - Eleventy → Build Awesome (What This Episode Covers) 0:40 - The Big News (Zach’s Announcement) 1:25 - Joining the Awesomeverse (and why it matters) 2:50 - Funding Open Source Without Burnout 4:20 - What Build Awesome Is (and who it’s for) 6:05 - Build Awesome Pro: Publishing + Collaboration Tools 7:20 - Backwards Compatibility: Your Eleventy Sites Still Work 8:10 - Upgrade Path: Eleventy v3 → Build Awesome v4 10:05 - Why Pro Features Make the Free Core Better 12:10 - In-Browser Editing: The “edit right on the site” experience 13:25 - Kickstarter Fun: Shooting the Launch Video in LA 15:40 - Cast, Crew, and the Cake/Hot Dog Metaphor 18:55 - Meet the Awesome Possum (Mascot Origins + Brand Homage) 20:40 - How to Support: Where to Go + Tiers + Swag 22:40 - Wrap-Up + What to Watch NextLinks & ResourcesBuild Awesome KickstarterEleventy / Build AwesomeFont AwesomeWeb AwesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

In this episode, Matt and Jory sit down with UK-based icon designer + illustrator Vic Bell to talk about the brand-new Font Awesome icon pack, Graphite — a loose, hand-drawn set that brings texture, depth, and a whole lot of human personality to iconography.If you’ve ever tried to balance clarity vs. creativity, or wondered how icons can feel more like typefaces with different “voices”, this one’s for you. 🎧🗒️ What We Cover in This Episode👋 How Vic and Jory connected✏️ Designing Font Awesome Pro Plus packs and how “Small Batch” became a thing🧠 Vic’s creative journey: trends, taste, and identity🏠 Why icons are storytelling at micro-scale⚖️ The tension between clarity and creativity🧰 Illustrator vs. Figma for icon design📲 Custom brushes and iPad sidecar workflows🕒 Timestamps0:00 - Introduction and Welcome0:46 - How Vic and Jory Connected2:48 - Font Awesome Icon Packs Overview5:42 - Vic's Creative Journey and Evolution7:45 - The Hand-Drawn "Graphite" Icon Style10:17 - Reflections on Icon Design as a Career13:41 - Childhood Influences and the Magic of Small Things17:18 - Creative Process and Personalization22:19 - Trusting the Creative Process23:32 - Project Validation and Creative Freedom25:15 - Technical Challenges and Implementation26:23 - Future of Font Awesome Icon Packs30:52 - Illustrator vs. Figma for Icon Design31:28 - Creating Custom Brushes and Using iPad38:38 - Balancing Clarity and Creativity in Icon Design47:37 - Releasing Icon Packs and Delayed Gratification🔗 Links & ResourcesVic Bell: / vic_bellFont Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/Web Awesome: https://webawesome.com/Theme music by Ronnie MartinInterstitial music by Zach MalmStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Eleventy started as a side project. Now it’s a critical infrastructure for thousands of websites.TL;DR: Open source isn’t broken. But the way we fund it often is. Let’s talk about what actually works.In this episode, we sit down with Zach Leatherman, creator of Eleventy (11ty), to talk honestly about what happens after open source succeeds. From nap-time coding and nights-and-weekends maintenance to venture capital pressure, burnout risk, and the reality of funding long-lived developer tools, this conversation digs into the cultural and financial tradeoffs behind modern open source.We cover sustainability, community expectations, funding models that don’t rely on hockey-stick growth, and why “free forever” only works if the people behind the project can stay whole humans.🎙️ What We Cover in This Episode🧠 How Eleventy grew from a side project into a widely depended-on tool⚖️ The maintainer’s dilemma: growth, responsibility, and personal sustainability💸 Why venture capital and hockey-stick growth often fail dev tools🔥 Burnout, boundaries, and being accountable to a global user base🏡 Balancing family life with open source maintenance🔁 Different funding models: donations, sponsorships, Pro tools, and tradeoffs🌱 What sustainable open source can look like long-term🔮 What’s ahead for Eleventy and its next chapter⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Introductions and why open source sustainability matters01:47 – Eleventy’s early days and unexpected adoption04:32 – When a “side project” becomes critical infrastructure06:42 – Corporate usage, expectations, and hidden pressure10:08 – Family life, burnout risk, and personal boundaries14:17 – Funding models: donations vs. sustainability18:45 – Venture capital, acquisitions, and hockey-stick growth myths23:33 – Lessons from Gatsby, Astro, and the dev tools ecosystem26:25 – Why sustainable open source must tie to real value30:26 – A healthier path forward for maintainers and communities33:20 – What’s next for Eleventy🔗 Links & ResourcesEleventy (11ty)Font AwesomeWeb Awesome🎵 Theme music by Ronnie Martin🎹 Interstitial music by Zach Malm🎥 Video support by Isaac ChaseStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Happy New Year from the Awesomeverse! In this episode, Matt and Jory kick off 2026 by recapping all the wild, weird, and wonderful things that happened across Font Awesome and Web Awesome in 2025. From the launch of FA7 and small-batch icon packs to a possum puppet mascot (yes, really), they reflect on the big (and small batch) wins, behind-the-scenes hilarity, and creative experiments that made the year unforgettable. Oh, and if you're wondering what it's like to direct a hot dog-eating scene at a Kickstarter video shoot? We’ve got that covered too.TL;DR: New icons, big upgrades, hilarious videos, brainy guests, possum puppets, and one heck of a year. 🧠 What We Cover in This Episode🎉 Reflecting on FA7 upgrades🧪 The rise of Pro Plus and its small batch icon packs (Etch! Jelly! Not Dog!)🎥 Behind-the-scenes on the F.A.C.U. cinematic universe and the FA7 shoot (hot dog suit included)🧩 How the newsletter icon puzzle took on a life of its own🧰 The official Web Awesome launch and what’s next🧠 Brainy takes on icon cognition from Dr. Brian Glenny🐾 The birth of Awesome Possum, our unofficial but fully fabulous mascot📦 Teasers for what’s coming in 2026: More icons, more components, and more fun⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Post-holiday haze & back in the podcast saddle 02:00 – FA7 highlights: Pro Plus packs + icon design overhaul 04:30 – Icon Pack breakdown: Etch, Jelly, Not Dog, and beyond 06:00 – Behind-the-scenes filming stories from the FA7 Kickstarter video 10:00 – Web Awesome officially launches! 12:30 – How the Awesome Possum was born 16:00 – The rise of the icon puzzle & newsletter hijinks 24:00 – Standout guests from the past season + the philosophy of icon design 28:00 – Accessibility icons, graffiti activism, and symbol cognition 30:00 – What’s coming in 2026: New icon packs, new components, and new surprises 32:00 – The Awesome Possum signs us off (kinda)🔗 Links & ResourcesCheck out the FA7 Launch VideoLearn more about Pro PlusBuild with Web AwesomeSubscribe to our Newsletter (get the puzzle!)Jory’s Puzzle Book: “Goes Without Saying”Behind-the-scenes of the FA7 ShootThe Accessibility Icon Project 🎵 Theme music by Ronnie Martin🎹 Interstitial music by Zach Malm🎥 Video support by Isaac ChaseStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

What is nerdery, really? 🤓 In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we dig into the heart of Font Awesome’s culture — inclusive nerdery. It's not about lone geniuses or command line gatekeepers. It’s about heart, curiosity, humility, and building awesome things with other people. 💛👾 You'll hear from FA team members Dave and Travis, plus a few snippets from topics we've covered on our blog and internal convos, all woven together to show how we:🎯 Hire for character over cleverness🔍 Celebrate deep curiosity (hello, nutrition nerds and D&D geeks!)🎉 Create space for serious play through our legendary team "Snuggles"🧠 Foster creativity through snack-sized projects like the Icon Wizard and Space Awesome gameThis episode is for anyone building company culture, or just trying to figure out how to lead with humanity in a techy world.✨ Icons may not change the world, but good people just might.🔍 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:00:00 – Welcome to Nerdery™02:00 – Defining what "nerd" means to us04:00 – Why we hire adults, not rockstars06:00 – Our 3-step hiring philosophy08:00 – Why we host company “Snuggles” (not summits!)10:00 – FARTS, the Icon Wizard & how fun leads to innovation12:00 – Space Awesome: building games on company time (and learning VueJS to boot!)14:00 – Why forced culture doesn’t work16:00 – A culture that’s built to last🔗 Mentioned in the Episode:🧙‍♂️ Space Awesome – FA dev projecthttps://spaceawesome.io/ 🛠 Our Hiring Philosophyhttps://blog.fontawesome.com/company-... ✨ The Icon Wizardhttps://blog.fontawesome.com/icon-wiz... 💼 More About FA Company Culturehttps://blog.fontawesome.com/nerdery/🎵 Theme music by Ronnie Martin🎹 Interstitial music by Zach Malm🎥 Video support by Isaac ChaseStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

🎬 What do Star Wars, oil painting, and storytelling have in common? Turns out: everything. In this curiosity-fueled episode, filmmaker and multi-hyphenate creative Andy Maier (Soon Agency) joins host Matt Johnson to talk about building a life powered by relentless learning, visual storytelling, and the kind of curiosity that launches careers 🚀.From working with Apple, SpaceX, and Microsoft to touring in his metal band Opponent and picking up oil painting during a creative pivot — Andy is the living embodiment of “just figure it out.” 💥🎨🧠If you've ever felt like the underdog creative, this one’s for you. Andy drops storytelling gems faster than Yoda lifts an X-Wing.🎸 Fun fact: Andy composed the metal version of the Font Awesome theme song in a single day. That’s some serious Jedi speed 🤘.🎙️ What We Cover in This Episode🤖 Why being curious is better than being talented🎥 How oil painting made Andy a better compositor🧱 The concept of “armature” and why your story collapses without one🌱 Why telling the truth is the best brand strategy🤝 The power of surrounding yourself with curious people✨ Building "wells, not fences" in your creative career⚔️ Star Wars, Iron Giant, and the real meaning of “The Force”⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Podcast Awesome 01:00 – Meet Andy Maier: Creative Jedi & Founder of Soon 02:30 – Early creative career and figuring it out on the fly 05:15 – The underestimated power of curiosity 08:20 – From DIY music videos to working with Apple and SpaceX 10:45 – Why storytelling is better than trends 13:30 – Building a creative life around community and friendships 16:00 – How oil painting made Andy better at... everything 19:00 – The merch moment: painting turned t-shirt design 22:00 – What’s real? How to build grounded storytelling 26:30 – Invisible Ink, Brian McDonald, and story armature 101 32:00 – Why Marvel’s Phase 4 struggles (and what X-Men got right) 34:00 – Star Wars, Joseph Campbell, and unlocking “the Force” 37:45 – Where to find Andy and his work 38:30 – Bonus: The origin of the metal FA theme song 🤘🔗 Links & Resources 🔥 Andy’s work – https://www.soon.agency 🎶 Andy’s band Opponent – https://www.solidstaterecords.com/opponent 📖 Invisible Ink by Brian McDonald – https://shorturl.at/E9101 🖖 Font Awesome’s Heavy Metal Icon Episode – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FlsrtKCI1Y 🎧 More Podcast Awesome episodes – https://podcastawesome.com #PodcastAwesome #StorytellingMatters #CreativeJedi #VisualStorytelling #FilmmakerLife #MotionGraphicsArtist #DesignNerds #FontAwesome #CuriosityWins #InvisibleInk #CreativeProcess #OilPaintingForDesigners #BuildWellsNotFences #NerdCulture #MetalVibesOnly #StarWarsStorytelling #MakeSomethingAwesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Episode SummaryWhat does it really take to ship something as powerful, polished, and downright magical as Web Awesome? In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Lindsay and Cory, the dynamic duo behind the official launch of Web Awesome. Together, they peel back the curtain on how the team brought a customizable design system to life (without summoning any cursed CSS incantations).From the slick Theme Builder to the deeply thoughtful Figma integration, from production-ready patterns to future-forward prototyping dreams, this convo is packed with insights for devs, designers, and nerds of all kinds. Get the scoop on stretch goals, community feedback, and why starting with a “sh*tty first draft” is actually a power move.Oh! And they may or may not be plotting a future where we don’t even need Figma anymore. Gasp!What We Cover in This Episode:🛠 The design magic behind the Theme Builder🎨 Patterns and why you shouldn’t reinvent the checkout form🧩 The current state of Figma files — and where they’re headed🧪 Bridging the gap between prototyping and real code🔮 A sneak peek at future stretch goal components (hello, toasts and video!)⚡ How Web Awesome + Eleventy = your new dream dev stack🗣 Why your newbie feedback matters more than you thinkTimestamps00:00 – Welcome & introductions01:45 – Life after launch: relief or revving up?03:30 – Making the Theme Builder powerful and friendly05:40 – Patterns that just work (and why that's a good thing)07:30 – Balancing usability and delightful surprises08:15 – Figma files, MVP vibes, and real feedback10:20 – The future of theming via Figma plugins12:00 – Stretch goal components: what’s shipped and what’s next14:30 – Why prototyping with code might replace Figma16:45 – Web Awesome meets Eleventy: the ultimate team-up19:00 – Templates, page builders, and lowering the barrier to entry20:30 – Why new users’ feedback is gold22:00 – How to connect with the team & share your experienceLinks & Resources🌐 [Web Awesome](https://webawesome.com)📣 [Join the Community](https://webawesome.com/community)🧵 [GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/webawesome/webawesome/discussions)📬 Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) / [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])💬 Join us on Discord – link on the community page!🧠 Learn more about [Jacob’s Law](https://lawsofux.com/jakobs-law/)🎁 Don’t forget: 20% off Web Awesome Pro until Nov 19th!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Episode Summary:We're heading back to the basement — (sort of). In this episode, Matt catches up with Mike Wilkerson, the OG guest of Podcast Awesome, to unveil the biggest update yet to the official Font Awesome WordPress plugin. From block editor visual support to full-on SVG injection wizardry (yes, that’s a thing), this version is all about giving developers and designers more power, more precision, and fewer plugin conflicts.Whether you’re a WordPress purist or a page builder rebel, you’ll walk away knowing how to get your icons looking sharp, staying pro, and loading like a dream.🧠 What We Cover in This Episode:🔌 The origin story of the plugin (and the furnace that helped launch it)🧱 Full block editor visual editing support (finally WYSIWYG!)🛠️ SVG injection + self-hosting benefits🛡️ How to squash plugin conflicts like a pro🔍 Page builder struggles—and what might be coming next🤝 How to send feedback to actual humans™ at Font Awesome⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Basement beginnings & podcast nostalgia 02:00 – WordPress + Font Awesome: how widespread is it? 04:00 – Why Version 5 is a game-changer 06:00 – How inline SVGs improve performance and reduce conflict 08:00 – Self-hosting benefits & advanced options 10:00 – When to load (or not load) your kit 12:00 – Compatibility tips for older content 14:00 – What’s next for FA + WordPress 16:00 – How to give feedback to actual humans™🔗 Links & Resources:Official Font Awesome WordPress PluginUsing Kits with WordPressConflict Detection & TroubleshootingEmail us: [email protected] up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

🧠 What do LEGO logos, hand-puppet dreams, citrus gadgets, and naming things "Turbo" have in common? They're all part of Dan Cederholm’s design universe — and part of this wide-ranging, joy-filled second half of our conversation.In this episode, Dan returns to talk about: • Embracing constraints as a creative fuel source• Naming fonts after misspelled words (because ... domains)• The delightful hellscape of naming anything in tech• Why imposter syndrome might actually be useful• And how a puppet changed everything at Font Awesome 🧡🎧 It’s a show-and-tell episode full of unexpected design wisdom, warm fuzzies, and orange peelers.What We Cover in This Episode:• 🧠 Dan’s creative process: one font at a time• 🚫 Naming things is still the hardest problem in tech• 🐀 The birth of the Font Possum Puppet• 🧃 The power of a really good citrus squeezer• 🤖 Why AI can’t fake taste (yet)• 💌 Why Dan's newsletter works (and yours could too)• 😵‍💫 Making peace with imposter syndrome• 🧩 Why being weird is a superpower⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro01:15 – The creative process of typeface design04:04 – Naming fonts is a nightmare06:05 – The importance of naming & branding12:25 – Imposter syndrome in the creative industry18:15 – A puppet changed everything22:31 – Why a newsletter is like old-school blogging29:03 – Orange peelers, joy, and the power of small specificity37:17 – The impact of creativity38:14 – Building community through creativity41:16 – Wrap up with Dan Cederholm42:24 – Final Thoughts & Credits📌 Links & Resources• Dan Cederholm → https://simplebits.com• Dan's newsletter → https://simplebits.com/newsletter• Turbo Typeface → https://simplebits.com/fonts• Font Possum cameo → [FontAwesome YouTube Channel]• BrickLink Studio (Lego design app) → https://www.bricklink.com/v3/studioStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

SummaryDesigner, author, and co-founder of Dribbble, Dan Cederholm joins Podcast Awesome to chat with Matt Johnson and Jory Raphael about finding joy in creativity later in life, making fonts just for fun, and the art of embracing imperfection. From typefaces and merch to dice games and design detours, Dan shares how side projects, constraints, and a healthy dose of curiosity keep the creative spark alive.This two-part conversation is full of laughter, nostalgia, and lessons about learning new things just because they’re fun. You’ll walk away inspired to make something— anything — awesome.Key TakeawaysCreativity thrives in curiosity: Dan reminds us that learning new things (even outside your job) can reignite your creative energy.Constraints fuel originality: Sometimes not knowing everything — or having limited tools — can sometimes help create the most human, interesting work.Merch can tell a story: From fonts to dice games, playful side projects become part of a designer’s personal brand.Imperfection = personality: The best designs often come with flaws that make them real, memorable, and relatable.Spend time not doing your job: Font Awesome’s team philosophy — creativity grows when you step outside your usual sandbox.Timestamps00:00 — Introduction and catching up with Dan Cederholm02:00 — Typefaces as creative puzzles06:00 — The joy of passion projects10:00 — The first font and lessons from “Chameleon”18:00 — The lineage of icon design and learning from imperfection26:00 — Failures, Field Notes, and finding the next fun thing30:00 — Creative constraints and the beauty of not knowing everything36:00 — Humor, joy, and “making stuff that makes you laugh”38:00 — The icons that exist just because they’re funny42:00 — Hidden glyphs, zombie hands, and bonus icons in fonts44:00 — Wrap-up and where to find Dan onlineRelated LinksSimpleBits.com — Dan’s home for fonts, merch, and creative experimentsDan’s Newsletter — The one Font Awesome staffers never skipDribbble — Co-founded by Dan, still inspiring designers everywhereCreditsProduced and edited by Matt Johnson Video editing by Isaac Chase Theme music by Ronnie Martin Interstitial music by Zach MalmStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Build once, run everywhere. In this full-nerd, front-end-leaning episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Zach Leatherman (creator of Eleventy) and Konnor Rogers (Web Awesome developer) to chat about how a static site generator just might be the key to building some of the most powerful, performant documentation on the web.We dig deep into Eleventy’s evolution, Web Awesome’s hybrid architecture, and how a team of devs found a way to keep docs fast, flexible, and secure — without rewriting everything from scratch or giving up on open source values. Spoiler: they didn’t go full ExpressJS for fun.Whether you’re a seasoned dev or a newb, this one's packed with insight, edge-case explorations, and some seriously satisfying build-time nerdery.In this episode, we explore:⚡️ Why Eleventy’s simplicity still scales 🧠 Making static sites feel dynamic (without a heavy JS framework) 🔐 How Web Awesome handles auth + private docs with minimal friction 🚫 Avoiding vendor lock-in and runtime gotchas 📦 The future of Eleventy in browsers, edge runtimes, and beyondPull up your terminal. This one’s for you.🔗 Links & Credits🎵 Theme by Ronnie Martin🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns (Lemon Productions)🎹 Interstitial music by Zach Malm🎥 Video support by Isaac Chase🔗 Eleventy🔗 Web AwesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Inside the UX lessons, internet lore, and surprising comeback of ClippyLove him or loathe him, you remember him. Clippy — the googly-eyed paperclip that lived inside Microsoft Word — has become a permanent fixture in internet culture. But how did a productivity tool become the patron saint of annoying-yet-adorable UI? In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we’re digging into the cult of Clippy with behind-the-scenes insights from Clippy's original creator Kevan Atteberry and Microsoft designer Sam Cundall. From meme fame to Microsoft Teams emoji, Clippy's legacy is more layered than you think.📝 What We Cover in This Episode:📎 Why Clippy was loved and hated🧠 The psychology of nostalgic design🔁 When Microsoft secretly brought Clippy back🤖 What Clippy might teach us about the future of AI assistants✍️ thoughts on reviving legacy designs the right way⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome to the Cult of Clippy 02:00 – The origin story: from helpful to hated 04:30 – Nostalgia and annoyance: why we love to hate him 06:00 – Microsoft’s secret Clippy emoji comeback 08:00 – What makes emoji design "work"? 10:00 – Fun at work: why weirdness builds culture 14:00 – The creator's take: Kevan Atteberry on designing Clippy 20:00 – From embarrassment to pride: Clippy's redemption arc 24:00 – Clippy vs. Siri: The rise of personality-driven UI 26:00 – Final thoughts: where personality fits in UX🔗 Links & Resources:Sam Kundal on LinkedInKevan Atteberry's booksHow to add a paperclip emoji to your UIVote a favorite icon up the leaderboard🎥 Podcast Awesome on YouTube 🎶 The Font Awesome Theme Song – Composed by Ronnie Martin🎸 Music Interstitials by Zach Malm🎬 Produced and edited by Matt Johnson with some extra help from Isaac Chase Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Have you ever rage-coded your way into building a developer tool that actually fixes things? Burton Smith has. And we’re here for it.In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt and Web Awesome's boss, Cory Laviska chat with Burton Smith. Burton is an open source wizard and creator of the Web Components Toolkit, and he tells us about the gap between the promise of Web Components and the messy reality devs often face.💻 Burton’s toolkit bridges that gap like Gandalf on a DX bender.In this episode we dive into: ⚙️ Developer experience pain points 🧩 Custom Elements Manifests (CEMs) and real-world tooling 🎯 Form-associated custom elements, declarative shadow DOM, and why they still have rough edges 🚀 Why frameworks finally (mostly) play nice with Web Components 📦 How open source tools can fix the stuff we all silently suffer through 🧠 And why making components “just work” should be table stakesThis one’s for devs who are tired of wiring up wrappers, fighting with VS Code autocomplete, or wondering why their component still doesn’t show up right in Storybook.✨ Bonus: We get a little spicy about SSR, headless UI, and whether a global design system is even a thing we want.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Podcast Awesome 02:00 – Meet Burton Smith: The Stuff Breaker 04:00 – Why Web Components Tooling is (Still) a Pain 06:00 – Closing the Gap Between DX and Dev Reality 12:00 – CEMs, ASTs, and Metadata Magic 20:00 – Form-associated Custom Elements (and the Weird Gaps) 24:00 – Declarative Shadow DOM: Blessing or Band-Aid? 28:00 – SSR, Frameworks, and the Next Frontier 34:00 – Global Design Systems, Gatekeeping, and Interop 42:00 – Headless UI vs. Useless DX 44:00 – How to Support Burton + Where to Find the Toolkit🔗 Links & Resources🌐 Burton’s Toolkit: https://wc-toolkit.com🧙‍♂️ Follow Burton on GitHub: https://github.com/Breakstuff🐦 Burton on Social: @StuffBreaker📄 Learn more about Custom Elements Manifest: https://github.com/webcomponents/custom-elements-manifest🛠️ Web Awesome: https://webawesome.dev🧡 Shoutout to all you open sourcers building magic after hours🎥 Podcast Awesome on YouTube 🎶 The Font Awesome Theme Song – Composed by Ronnie Martin🎸 Music Interstitials by Zach Malm🎬 Produced and edited by Matt Johnson with some extra help from Isaac Chase Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

🔴 “Excuse me … I believe you have my stapler?”One line. Infinite memes. A red-hot icon.In this episode of The Story Behind the Icon, we dive deep into the surprisingly rich lore behind the humble office stapler — and how a cult classic film, a soft-spoken cubicle dweller, and a spray-painted prop turned it into a cultural artifact.🎧 Whether you’ve got 37 pieces of flair or just enough sarcasm to survive corporate life, this one’s for the design nerds, Office Space devotees, and UI jokesters looking for the perfect button metaphor.🔍 What We Cover in This Episode🔴 The origin story of Milton’s beloved red stapler 🎞️ Mike Judge’s animated roots and early Office Space shorts 💻 Remote work, legacy office gear, and the evolution of workplace design 🧑‍💼 Font Awesome’s very own “Milton” and the logic behind the madness 🎨 How to recreate Milton’s soul in HTML with our duotone icon 🎬 The real reason Swingline started making red staplers⏰ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Podcast Awesome 01:25 – A new take on the old office 02:40 – Meet Milton: The patron saint of passive resistance 04:20 – Mike Judge: From Beavis and Butthead to box office satire 05:55 – The stapler becomes an icon 06:35 – Meet FA’s own Milton (Hi, Steve 👋) 07:20 – Grumpiness as UI insight 08:05 – Milton’s stapler wasn’t red... until it was 09:00 – Design challenge: Where will you use the stapler icon? 09:50 – Commission your own icon or vote one into existence 10:30 – Credits and a final plea: Return. The. Stapler.🔗 Links & Resources🖇️ Stapler Icon on Font Awesome 📽️ Office Space (1999) 🎨 Vote for an icon on the leaderboard 📝 FA Blog: The Story Behind the Icon Series🎥 Podcast Awesome on YouTube – Full uncut convo with extra music nerdiness 🎶 The Font Awesome Theme Song – Composed by Ronnie Martin 🎸 Music Interstitials by Zach Malm 🎬 Produced and edited by Matt JohnsonStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Designing Joy: Don Clark of Invisible Creature on Creativity, Collectibles & CultureIn this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt hangs out with legendary designer Don Clark of Invisible Creature to dive into the analog soul of digital design. From their punk rock roots and Grammy-nominated album covers to art directing for Seattle’s swankiest restaurant, Don and his brother Ryan have created work you’ve seen —whether you know it or not.They discuss growing up with a NASA illustrator grandpa, how nostalgia fuels creativity, the value of physical objects in a swipe-and-scroll world, and how a sibling-run design studio rides the waves of industry change. It’s a masterclass in storytelling, aesthetics, and sneaky inspiration.Plus, Don once designed a 7-story mural for Newark Airport that one construction worker told him no one would ever notice. Art, meet irony.✨ What We Cover in This Episode🚀 Grandpa drew spaceships for NASA — no big deal🎸 From hardcore zines to Grammy-nominated album art🧸 Why physical objects still matter (even in a scroll-y, swipey world)😊 Nostalgia, and the purposeful creation of joy 🏠 Turning a love of toys and typography into brand work for Target, Canlis, and more🏄🏻‍♂️ Creating a career by riding the wave (not controlling it)👾 How Invisible Creature got its name — and why most people don’t realize they’ve seen their work🍽️ Art direction in fine dining, and designing for iconic spaces⏱️ Timestamps[00:01:00] – Don’s creative upbringing & grandpa's NASA work [00:04:00] – From punk flyers to full-time design [00:08:00] – Physical design in a digital world [00:12:00] – Object design, collectibles, and vintage influence [00:16:00] – Tapping nostalgia the right way [00:20:00] – Album covers, influence, and desktop publishing [00:24:00] – The decline of CDs & the rise of gig posters [00:28:00] – The challenges (and joys) of working with family [00:32:00] – Canlis restaurant and entering the fine dining space [00:36:00] – Creating inspiring physical spaces [00:38:00] – Why “Invisible Creature” is the perfect name [00:42:00] – Good design as invisible, objective experience [00:44:00] – Designing stamps, murals, and children’s Bibles [00:46:00] – Streamlining creativity after 25 years in the biz [00:48:00] – Wrapping up and why riding the wave matters🔗 Links & ResourcesInvisible CreatureMind Reader Music – Album packaging by Ryan Clark & Kevin MooreCanlis – Seattle fine dining where Don is art directorArt of the Incredibles Book – Don’s favorite Pixar art bookPodcast Awesome on YouTube – Full uncut convo with extra music nerdinessThe Font Awesome Theme Song – Composed by Ronnie MartinMusic Interstitials by Zach MalmAudio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon ProductionsProduced and edited by Matt JohnsonStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

💥 A Podcast Awesome Deep CutEpisode Description:🛎️ Guess what? We got a fever … and the only prescription is … well, you know. In this very special episode of Podcast Awesome, we hit pause on our usual tech-and-icon-nerdery to unleash a full-throttle ode to one of the wackiest icons in our set: Cowbell Circle Plus.What starts as a nod to the legendary SNL sketch featuring Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken (The Bruce Dickinson, thank you very much), quickly turns into a globetrotting, time-hopping, cultural deep dive through the unexpected history of the humble cowbell. From medieval Irish cow raids 🐄⚔️ to German cowbell zoning laws 📏🔔 to the altars of rock and roll 🥁🎸, we unpack how this sonic sidekick moo-ved (hehe) from pasture to punchline.Plus: Icon Designer extraordinaire Jory Rafael stops by to share how we brought the Cowbell icon to life (spoiler: it did not involve raiding any farms).🧀 What We Cover in This Episode:🐄 Cowbell as medieval emergency alert system🏴‍☠️ Cattle raids and why your cow needed anti-theft bells in 12th century Ireland🛠️ The surprising craftsmanship behind cowbells (hello, zoning laws!)🌍 How cowbells show up in global rituals🎶 The greatest cowbell moments in music — from Foghat to KISS to the Beastie Boys😂 The SNL sketch that made “More Cowbell” the rallying cry for comedy nerds everywhere🔤 Behind-the-scenes with the FA team: how we turned “More Cowbell” into an icon🤘 A lightning round of underappreciated cowbell bangers⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome to the Weird World of Cowbell 01:15 – SNL Meets SVG: The Inspiration Behind the Icon 02:30 – History Lesson: Cowbells as Analog GPS 04:20 – Cattle Raids, Irish Wars, and Why Your Cow Needed Protection 06:10 – Cowbell Zoning Laws? Yep, That Was a Thing 07:00 – Superstition, Spirit-Banishing & Ceremonial Bells 08:15 – Enter: The Iconic More Cowbell Sketch (2000, SNL) 09:00 – Icon Deep Dive with Jory Rafael 10:20 – Musical Cowbell Moments You Didn’t Know You Needed 11:30 – Wrap-up & Credits Roll Like a Cow in a Parade🔗 Links & Resources:Cowbell Circle Plus Icon on Font AwesomeMore Cowbell SNL Sketch (NBC)Cattle Raid of Cooley (Wikipedia)Alex Poiry makes an appearance as the medieval town council. Music shoutouts: Foghat, Beastie Boys, KISS, Judas Priest, Queen, Thin Lizzy, and moreCredits: Matt Johnson (host + producer), Ronnie Martin (theme song), Zach Malm (music interstitials), Chris Enns @ Lemon Productions (mastering), Isaac Chase (video edit magic)Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Pork chop sandwiches!! 🫡 🏃‍♂️‍➡️Gather round the interwebs young Gen Xers and Elder Millennials ... In this oddball solo episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt rewinds to the early 2000s and dives deep into the glitchy, glorious chaos of Fensler Film’s GI Joe PSA remixes — a series of bootleg web videos that helped shape meme culture as we know it.These gloriously low-res VHS-rip remixes mashed up 1980s GI Joe cartoon PSAs with absurdist humor, surreal voice dubbing, and non sequiturs that burned themselves into our collective consciousness.Before TikTok. Before YouTube. Before broadband was normal … we had burned DVDs, word-of-mouth weirdness, and lines like:“Pork chop sandwiches!”“Hey kid, I’m a computer!”“Stop all the downloading!”"It's the body message machine-GO!" In this episode, we explore:🧠 The origin story of the GI Joe PSAs📼 Why they were viral gold in a pre-social internet💥 The art of deliberate absurdity and proto-memes📺 Their influence on shows like Robot Chicken and Tim & Eric🌀 Why chaotic creative energy still beats algorithmic contentSo gather 'round, old-school internet nerds. This one’s for you. And knowing? Well… you know the rest.🔗 Links & Credits🎵 Theme by Ronnie Martin 🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns (Lemon Productions) 🎹 Interstitial music by Zach Malm 🎥 Video support by Isaac Chase#PodcastAwesome #GIJoePSAs #InternetHistory #MemeCulture #FenslerFilm #DesignNerdery #TimAndEric #PorkChopSandwiches #AbsurdistComedyStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Where did the “All Your Base Are Belong to Us” meme come from — and why did it break the early internet?In this nostalgic deep dive, Matt explores the wackadoodle origin of one of the internet’s most gloriously awkward memes. Before “going viral” was even a phrase, this phrase from the 1992 Sega Genesis game Zero Wing somehow made its way from mistranslation to mass internet hysteria — with techno remixes, Flash videos, Photoshopped street signs, and even a nod from AOC herself.Yes, this was real. And it was spectacular.Whether you're an old-school web nerd or just want to understand why your coworker keeps saying “Set up us the bomb,” this one's for you.🔹 What We Cover in This Episode:🕹️ A breakdown of Zero Wing’s hilariously mistranslated intro🎶 The techno remix and Flash video that made the meme explode🧠 Why “All Your Base” became the blueprint for internet weird📡 How meme culture has evolved from delightful chaos to... whatever’s happening now🧑‍🚀 AOC’s legendary tweet that brought it all full circle⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 – Intro + Barry White podcast voice 1:31 – What is the Ballmer Peak of memes? 3:00 – The original Zero Wing translation trainwreck4:32 – “Set up us the bomb”: the remix and Flash frenzy6:15 – AOC, memes in politics, and nostalgia rebooted8:00 – Final thoughts on the beauty of shared digital nonsense🔗 Links & Resources:🕹️ Original Zero Wing meme history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_your_base_are_belong_to_us#:~:text=%22All%20your%20base%20are%20belong,the%201989%20Japanese%20arcade%20game.👾 The remix that started it all: Invasion of the GABA Robots: https://archive.org/details/invasion_of_the_gabber_rob🧠 AOC’s legendary tweet: https://x.com/aoc/status/1086483485668319233🛠️ Credits:🎙️ Hosted, produced, and edited by Matt Johnson🎵 Theme music by Ronnie Martin🎧 Music interstitials by Zach Malm🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions📣 Like the show?Subscribe so you never miss an episode!Rate + review to help more nerds discover us.Or just shout “ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US” in public. (We’ll know what it means.)Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

“Layouts are sexy but, you know, words still matter.” In this solo rant-style episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt takes a silly, unhinged dive into the world of Lorem Ipsum — the gibberish placeholder text that’s haunted designers and writers alike since the 1500s. From Cicero’s scrambled Latin to zombie-themed mockups, we trace the wild history and the weird world of filler text.So ... why do we still treat real content as an afterthought? And what happens when a layout only works with nonsense words?You’ll laugh. You’ll cringe. You’ll maybe rethink that next wireframe.🧠 What We Cover in This Episode:🤬 The grammar quirks that make writers lose their minds (yes, we see you, Oxford comma debate)🏛️ The bizarre origin of Lorem Ipsum (hi Cicero!)🥓 Bacon Ipsum, Hipster Ipsum, Cat Ipsum😤 A friendly/spicy rant on why Lorem Ipsum might kill your content strategy👻 Live sites with placeholder text ⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome to the Fake Latin Fight Club 01:00 – Oxford Commas, Passive Voice, and Writers with Rage 03:00 – Sarcastic Quotation Marks and Melty “Cheese” 04:00 – What Even Is Lorem Ipsum, Anyway? 05:30 – From Ancient Rome to Adobe Default Settings 06:45 – The Rise of Bacon, Hipster, and Zombie Ipsum 08:00 – THE RANT: “If Your Layout Only Works With Nonsense…” 09:30 – Final Thoughts: Fonts Are Cool. Content Is King.🔗 Links & Resources:Generate your own Bacon Ipsum 🥓Cat Ipsum for feline-forward mockups 🐱Zombie Ipsum, because... why not 🧟Theme by Ronnie Martin 🎹8-bit interstitial music by Zach MoomAudio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions 🍋🎙️ Subscribe + Listen:📱 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 💻 YouTube | 🌐 podcastawesome.comStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Design meets activism. Philosophy meets iconography. Wheelchairs meet graffiti.In this philosophy-packed episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt chats with professor, artist, and co-founder of the Accessible Icon Project, Brian Glenny. Together with colleague Sara Hendron, they took a bold journey to make a tweak to the accessibility symbol — which led to a humble street art sticker to statewide legislation.Brian’s story unpacks how a wheelchair icon went from stiff and static to dynamic and full of agency — and how that tweak sparked a global conversation about representation, identity, and inclusion.Along the way, we hit:🧠 The neuroscience of symbol recognition🎨 Graffiti roots and punk rock influence📜 Ethics and accessibility in visual design♿ The making of a movement: from sticker campaign to state law🤯 How even tiny geometry tweaks carry political powerIf you’ve ever wondered how symbols shape culture — or why an icon isn’t “just an icon” — this one’s for you.And knowing? Yep. That’s half the battle.🔗 Links & Credits🚧🎨🏙️Brian's Wiki Page👀 Learn more about Sara Hendren🎵 Theme by Ronnie Martin 🎹 Interstitial music by Zach Malm 🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns (Lemon Productions) 🎥 Video support by Isaac Chase⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⢁⣛⣷⠖⡐⡐⠐⠀⠂⣠⣷⣾⣆⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣸⣸⣀⣀⠀⠈⠀⠌⢀⠂⣻⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣴⠊⠉⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⣢⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢻⡟⡟⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠻⢭⡭⠭⠭⠭⠭⠭⡼⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡏⡇⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡿⠀⢀⠤⠤⢄⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠃⡇⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠇⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣷⠀⠱⣄⡀⡠⠁⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢯⣭⣈⣉⣍⣉⡭⠜⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀#PodcastAwesome #AccessibleIconProject #BrianGlenny #DesignActivism #InclusiveDesign #IconographyMatters #DisabilityRepresentation #GraffitiArt #DesignEthics #Semiotics #ContentIsCulture #DesignPhilosophyStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

In this very special episode of The Nerd Show and Tell, we finally cornered the elusive co-founder of Font Awesome — Travis Chase! 🧢✨ From dialing into the web back in the modem days, to co-founding a company that powers millions of websites, Travis shares his unique journey from almost-accountant to accidental icon-company-boss. Or something. You’ll hear tales of telephony code, Star Wars devotion, and how building a company that doesn’t burn people out might be the most radical idea of all.He’s part artist 🎨, part developer 💻, full-on space western nerd — and yes, he’s that guy you want on your trivia team.🧠 What We Cover in This Episode🖼️ How an “uncreative” art student became a designer-turned-developer📞 Building answering machines from scratch — with homemade programming languages!👨‍👦 Juggling startups, Y Combinator, and parenting like a boss🎯 The philosophy behind not grinding yourself to dust🌟 Going full lightspeed into Star Wars Unlimited (Vegas tourney? Yep.)🧙‍♂️ Favorite icons, D&D vibes, and space westerns galore☕ How coffee and coding dreams brewed into a global icon toolkit⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: We Finally Wrangled Travis 01:00 – Side Hustles, Modems, and Making the Web Happen 03:00 – From Art School to Programming Wizardry 06:00 – Answering Machine Nerdvana (Travis’ Favorite Dev Story!) 09:00 – College Friends → Startup Squad 12:00 – That Time They Got Into YC  15:00 – Building Font Awesome the Fun Way 18:00 – Culture that Actually Cares About People 21:00 – What Travis is Nerding Out About (👀 Star Wars Unlimited!) 24:00 – AI, Card Games, and Cross-Pollinating Passions 25:00 – Favorite Icons + Wishlist Packs (Laser swords, anyone?) 27:00 – A Chill Goodbye and More Nerd Show and Tell to Come🔗 Links & Resources🌐 Font Awesome — Icons that just work™🪐 Star Wars: Unlimited TCG — The game Travis is totally (and deeply) nerding out about🏢 37signals & Rework — Inspiration for FA's work/life philosophy🎵 Podcast Theme by Ronnie Martin🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns @ Lemon ProductionsStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

SummaryWhat does it take to shoot a high-energy, humor-packed, visually delicious Font Awesome marketing video? A 12-hour day, a diner full of chaos, and a guy in a hot dog suit. In this episode, Matt chats with Jory and Isaac, two key players behind the Font Awesome 7 video, about the hilarious mishaps, creative choices, and ridiculous amounts of pancakes that went into bringing the video to life.They cover everything from why FA videos always feature food-themed settings to the art of keeping a cast of recurring characters (aka the Font Awesome Cinematic Universe). And yes, Easter eggs abound — including a cameo from FA co-founder Dave Gandy, cheers-ing a Stormtrooper, blue milk in hand. Plus, Isaac documented the whole process, creating FA’s first behind-the-scenes mini-documentary.Key Takeaways🔥 FA videos don’t follow the “no comedy in tech” rule — and that’s exactly why they work.🎬 From coffee shops to candy stores to diners, FA videos always have a warm, real-world setting (because a lab full of beakers? Snooze).🤝 The same cast keeps coming back — because the FA Cinematic Universe is a thing now.📹 The behind-the-scenes doc captures the chaos of shooting in one day —including an entire subplot about pancakes raining from the sky.🌭 A guy in a hot dog suit wore it all day. No, really. All day.👀 Hidden Easter eggs in the video include an inside joke about “changing the recipe” and a blue milk cheers from FA’s co-founder.Timestamps🎤 0:00:09 - Welcome to Podcast Awesome! Matt sets the stage for this episode, talking about the Font Awesome 7 video shoot, the team behind it, and why humor is baked into FA’s DNA.🎞️ 0:04:06 - The evolution of FA videos: From Kickstarter promos to a full-blown recurring cast — how FA has built a Cinematic Universe of its own.🍪 0:10:45 - The FA video playbook: Coffee shops, candy stores, and diners—why FA videos always happen in warm, real-world food settings instead of cold tech labs.🎭 0:18:05 - Bringing the band back together: How the same actors, crew, and production team keep the FA vibe consistent (and keep the jokes landing).📹 0:26:11 - Lights, camera, pancakes! Improv moments, VFX wizardry, and an actor in a hot dog suit — who refused to take it off all day.🎬 0:32:16 - The behind-the-scenes doc: For the first time ever, FA captured a full BTS look at a marketing shoot — outtakes, problem-solving, and late-day delirium included.🐣 0:35:31 - Easter eggs and inside jokes: Dave Gandy’s blue milk toast, a deep-cut Star Wars reference, and a menu full of hidden Font Awesome-specific gems.Links & Credits🎥 Watch the Font Awesome 7 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmYXJGEyBXI🎬 Check out the Behind-the-Scenes Mini Doc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3pTha-tT3c🎵 Theme song by Ronnie Martin 🎛 Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions 🎤 Podcast production by Matt Johnson 🎥 Video production and behind-the-scenes doc by Isaac ChaseGot thoughts on the episode? Hit us up on social and let us know what your favorite moment was!Now go make something awesome. 🚀🎨Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Learn why accessible web design matters for everyone — not just users with disabilities. Lindsay Miller joins Podcast Awesome to discuss WCAG, ADA, design best practices, and tools for accessible development.🚨 In this insightful episode of Podcast Awesome, host Matt Johnson is joined by Lindsay Miller, accessibility advocate and member of the Web Awesome team, for a deep dive into the principles, practices, and purpose of accessible web design.Together, they explore what web accessibility really means, debunk common misconceptions, and offer practical insights for developers, designers, and digital creators. From ADA compliance and WCAG standards to UI/UX challenges, you'll learn how small choices—like proper contrast ratios or semantic HTML—can have a big impact.🔍 Key Topics Covered:What accessibility means on the web (hint: it’s about inclusion, not just disability)Designing and coding with empathy: serving users with temporary, situational, or permanent impairmentsWhy legal compliance matters: WCAG, ADA, Section 508, and how lawsuits are shaping the webReal-world design challenges: from color contrast to font sizesHow Web Awesome components are accessibility-firstTools, resources, and guidelines used by accessibility professionals🛠️ Mentioned Resources:WebAIM.orgWAI-ARIA Authoring PracticesThe A11Y ProjectNielsen Norman Group’s accessibility guidesWhether you're building for clients, open-source, or your own product, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone who believes in a more usable, equitable internet.🎧 Produced and edited by Matt Johnson 🎵 Theme song: By Ronnie Martin | interstitials by Zach Malm 🔊 Mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions 📹 Video editing help from Isaac Chase / @theisaacchaseStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Font Awesome 7 Here We Come! In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we’re serving up a heaping helping of new icons, fresh features, and ProPlus goodness with Font Awesome 7! Host Matt Johnson is joined by icon designers Jory Raphael and Noah Jacobus to break down what’s new — like seven all-new icon packs, a smoother-than-butter upgrade path, and under-the-hood improvements that make your icons sharper, faster, and slicker than ever.Is it too many icons? Maybe. Are we going to stop? Absolutely not.🎙️ Listen in as we talk about the design tweaks, ProPlus perks, and the iconic (heh) collabs that made Font Awesome 7 a reality. Plus, we drop some exclusive details on the biggest sale of the year!💥 Don’t miss out — hit play and then ... Go make something awesome.Timestamp Summary🌟 0:00 | Font Awesome 7 Launch: New Icons and Features Unveiled 🚀 3:37 | Font Awesome 7 Enhancements and New Pro Plus Icon Packs 🎨 9:24 | Icon Designers Unleash Creativity with Font Awesome Pro Packs 🌌 17:18 | Creative Icon Design Inspired by Silicon Valley and Cosmic Events 🧠 21:09 | Innovative Icon Design and Preparation for Launch ✏️ 24:00 | Creating Art with Thumbprint Drawings and Icon Packs 🧭 24:48 | Creative Exploration and Unique Icon Design Inspirations 🔍 29:17 | Exploring Icon Packs and Their Creative Development 📦 32:05 | Font Awesome 7 Launches With New Plans and Icon Packs 📣 34:57 | Font Awesome 7 Pro Plus Icon Packs and Marketing IdeasResources & Links🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ "After School Keyboard Club" https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-after-school-keyboard-club-casio-vl-tone-80s-chiptune-retro-151684/Font Awesome on the Socials🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

🎬 SummaryIn this Nerd Show & Tell episode of Podcast Awesome, we finally catch up with the one and only Isaac Chase — the wizard behind our ever-growing library of video content at Font Awesome. From his early dreams of making it in film and television to becoming a full-time creator on our team, Isaac shares about the challenges of starting in the film industry during the COVID era, storytelling in marketing, and more.We chat about his background in film and marketing, his favorite movies (slow burns, unite!), creative influences, and how his love for storytelling finds a home even in screencasts and product walkthroughs. Plus, Isaac drops his hot take on the next big icon pack idea (we're looking at you, Severance fans 👀).🧠 Key Takeaways🎓 College Grad, Creative Dad Connection Isaac studied digital film and TV production at Missouri State University and joined Font Awesome part-time during the industry-wide writer/actor strikes — eventually going full-time thanks to a well-timed offer (shoutout to Travis Chase, a.k.a. Isaac’s real-life dad).🎥 From Film Sets to Screencasts His deep love for film — especially slow-paced, thoughtful stories like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Past Lives, and Arrival — translates into his thoughtful, user-focused approach to content creation at FA.📼 Video, Video, Video! Isaac helped launch our video podcast format and has been leading the charge on screencasts, animations, and behind-the-scenes storytelling (more to come on that, soon!)  🎬💻 Learning on the Job = Built-in Bonus Despite not having a dev or design background, Isaac's learned loads about accessibility, UI, and component-based design just by working on educational content — and he's loving every minute of it.🧃 Favorite Icon? The cup-to-go ☕ icon has a special place in his heart (because coffee + nostalgia), and he’s got a soft spot for our teleportation icon too. ✨🎨 Design Nerd in the Making Outside work, Isaac’s nerding out on graphic design, especially in music merch and poster art. He’s diving into the visual side of music culture — and working with musician friends on their branding.⏱️ Chapter Markers🟡 00:00 – Introduction to Podcast Awesome 🎥 01:13 – Isaac’s role at FA and current projects 🎓 03:21 – Isaac’s background in film, college, and the writer's strike 🛠️ 09:12 – From film school to corporate creativity 🍿 11:22 – Favorite movies and the magic of slow storytelling 🎞️ 16:46 – How filmmaking skills shape his current work 📺 22:55 – Screencasts, branding, and learning to teach 🎨 29:43 – Nerding out on design, music merch, and FA icons 📦 32:33 – Isaac’s icon wish list (hello, Severance pack!) 🎉 44:00 – Wrap-up and thank-yousProduced and edited by Matt Johnson Edited by Isaac Chase Theme Music by Ronnie Martin Interstitials by Zach Malm Mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions 🍋Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Episode SummaryWhat makes design hard? It’s not just pixels, software, or tools — it’s people. (Yep, you. And me. And all of us.) In this episode, I sit down with my friend Bryan Zug, co-author (along with Scott Berkun), of the book, Why Design is Hard, to talk about why good design is more than just good ideas — it’s about relationships, collaboration, and the messy, sometimes painful reality of working on creative teams.Bryan was there in the early days of the web, hacking together sites before CSS was even a thing. He’s built products, led UX teams, and helped companies like Amazon and Zillow figure out how to make design work at scale. But more than that, he’s a community builder, the kind of guy who started hosting backyard firepits during COVID just to keep people connected.I’ll be honest — this conversation was brutal to edit because Bryan has so much insight to share. If you’ve ever struggled with design bottlenecks, team dynamics, or just getting your ideas off the ground, this one’s for you.What We Cover in This Episode💡 Why great design is really about great relationships 🎨 How designers can avoid getting stuck in “artifact culture”  💻 What designers actually do in the real world  📖 How storytelling can make or break your influence as a designer 🤝 The secret sauce to making cross-functional teams actually function 🦄 Why the lone “unicorn designer” era is over — and what comes next *Factually accuracy check at playback: Bryan informed me he misspoke at 7:11 when he said he was at Amazon when the pandemic hit — I was actually Zillow. NBD. Audio not edited. ⏳ Timestamps⏲️ [00:00] Intro – A Conversation Years in the Making⏲️ [02:15] The Big Idea: Why Design is Hard⏲️ [08:40] The Myth of the “Design Hero”⏲️ [14:25] Why Design Decisions Happen in Budget Meetings⏲️ [19:30] The Red Flags of a Company That Doesn’t Truly Value Design⏲️ [25:10] The #1 Skill Designers Need (Hint: It’s Not Figma)⏲️ [30:50] What Ignite Seattle Taught Bryan About Telling Better Stories⏲️ [35:15] Outro – Why You Need to Read Why Design is HardLinks & Resources📖 Grab a copy of Why Design is HardLearn more about the co-author, Scott Berkun: https://scottberkun.com/ 🔗 Connect with Bryan Zug: @bryanzug.bsky.social 🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ "Retro Race" https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-retrorace-108750/Font Awesome on the Socials🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Design engineer. UX engineer. Front-end dev with opinions. What does it all mean?! In this episode, we sit down with Dave Darnes to untangle the ever-evolving world of design and development (And Dave is our first non-Font Awesomer on the pod!). We talk about why job titles keep getting weirder, whether "engineer" is a fair title for folks who work on the web, and how design systems can bridge the gap between teams. Plus, we explore the future of the role — will tools like Figma and AI replace design engineers, or will the internet always need humans who can actually build things?🚀 Tune in for a fun, insightful, and slightly existential conversation about the intersection of design, dev, and the titles we give ourselves.🏆 Key TakeawaysDesign Engineer: Job Title or Existential Crisis? Dave breaks down the blurry line between design and development and why this role exists.Gatekeeping vs. Open Web: How the internet has democratized career paths—and why some job titles might be a shield against skepticism.The Future of Design & Dev: Will tools like Figma and AI squeeze out design engineers, or is there always a place for people who build with craft?Design Systems & Developer Relations: Why advocacy (not nagging) makes or breaks adoption.Rockstar/Ninja/Unicorn Titles: Just ... don’t.⏱️ Episode Breakdown🕛 00:00 - Meet Dave Darnes – 🇬🇧 UK-based designer/developer, father of sick children (but still here for the podcast).🎤 02:30 - The Legendary "David Darnes" Callout – A completely necessary and extremely fun moment of podcast magic.🛠️ 06:45 - What is a Design Engineer Anyway? –  The Venn diagram of design and development overlaps in weird ways.📛 12:15 - Why Job Titles Get Messy –  Specialization vs. generalization and the need to impress hiring managers.🏗️ 18:30 - Engineer as a Title — Does It Matter? –  Structural engineers hold up buildings; do web engineers hold up the internet? (Kinda, yeah.)🔄 24:00 - The Evolution of Design & Dev Roles –  How web components, CSS variables, and other tech are shifting expectations.🥕 30:45 - How to Get People to Actually Use a Design System –  Hint: Be more carrot, less stick.🤖 35:00 - The Battle Between Figma & AI –  Will design engineers survive the encroaching automation?🔄 40:30 - If You Had to Rename 'Design Engineer'... – Dave's answer is almost annoyingly simple.🔗 Resources & LinksCheck out Dave’s work: https://darn.es/His blog on design systems: designsystems.wtfIs 2025 the Year of the "Design Engineer"? Submit your own “David Darnes” callout on his website (seriously, do it).🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ "After School Keyboard Club" https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-after-school-keyboard-club-casio-vl-tone-80s-chiptune-retro-151684/Font Awesome on the Socials🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

In this episode, Dave and Matt explore First LEGO League, where kids as young as third grade tackle robotics and engineering challenges. As a coach, Dave shares how he guides his team to embrace the golden rule of engineering: Keep it simple, keep it sturdy.Listeners will learn how to spot the difference between over-the-top complexity and straightforward solutions that just work. Practical beats fancy almost every time.Dave also shares how his time at MIT taught him that simplicity is the secret sauce of reliable design. His mantra “Boring is Best™” takes center stage as he unpacks how choosing functional, dependable solutions often leads to bigger wins.But this isn’t just about gears and sensors — it’s about the people behind the bots. Coaching young engineers shines a light on the ultimate truth: Good engineering is all about putting people first.Key Takeaways:LEGO League 101: Where third graders gear up to build and program robots like tiny pros.Simple Wins: In engineering, simple and sturdy beats flashy but fragile every time.Dave's MIT Mantra: Inspired by his alma mater, Dave champions practical, reliable solutions.Power of Basics: Stick to the fundamentals, and you’ll go further than you think.Test, Tweak, Repeat: Early testing and iteration > chasing perfection out of the gate.This episode is proof that when it comes to engineering (and life), keeping it simple doesn’t just work — it wins.Timestamp🧩 0:32 – Coaching Kids in Engineering Through First LEGO League ⚖️ 5:31 – Balancing Simplicity and Creativity in Engineering Solutions 🤖 8:02 – Simplifying LEGO Robotics: Achieving Success Through Minimalism 🤿 10:54 – Innovative Solutions for Underwater Exploration Challenges 🏆 12:38 – Boring Solutions Win Engineering Competitions 🚀 15:45 – Balancing Innovation with Customer Needs in Tech Startups 🔄 17:35 – Embracing Iteration and Accepting Being Wrong for Faster Success 🛠️ 20:01 – Embracing Simplicity and Iteration in Product DevelopmentResources:Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsAurora Holiday DanceFont Awesome on the SocialsFirst LEGO League🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesome💼 LinkedIn:   / fontawesome   Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

It’s that time of year again! In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we’re reflecting on all the things that went down at Font Awesome in 2024. From expanding the Awesomeverse with Web Awesome and Eleventy to major product updates like the full release of Duotone Icons and shiny new branding, we cover it all.You’ll hear about the Web Awesome Kickstarter campaign (success!), the arrival of industry legends Lea Verou and Zach Leatherman, and the behind-the-scenes Font Awesome updates that made 2024 one for the books. As they say. Oh, and don’t miss Jory’s epic tale of a tuxedo kitten named Toast that could easily inspire a heart warming stop motion holiday movie.Tune in for a fun, nerdy recap of the year that was and a sneak peek at what’s in store for 2025.Timestamp Summary🎉 0:08 | Reflecting on 2024 and Font Awesome's Upcoming Plans 🐾 2:35 | A Christmas Miracle and a Chaotic Kitten Rescue 🌌 7:26 | Building the Awesomeverse: Font Awesome's Expansion and Success 🔧 10:28 | Web Awesome Simplifies Website Building with Reusable Components 🤝 13:12 | Exciting New Hires and Developments at Font Awesome 🎁 16:41 | Exciting Updates and Offers for Font Awesome Pro ✨ 18:51 | Font Awesome's Icon Expansion and Creative Uses 🎥 25:07 | Behind the Scenes of a New Font Awesome Video 🛠️ 27:57 | Customizing Font Awesome Kits for Optimal Website Performance 🌱 30:12 | Evolution ... It'll Save Your Life Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsAurora Holiday Dance Font Awesome on the Socials 🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesome💼 LinkedIn:   / fontawesome   🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

🍺 What’s the deal with the Ballmer Peak? Myth, meme, or just good old-fashioned developer humor? In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we unpack the hilarity and history behind this coding legend, complete with personal stories, team insights, and a responsible PSA. Whether you’re debugging at 3 a.m. or just love a good laugh, this episode has something for everyone. (And check out the episode on our YouTube for an even more fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb77NS_zFgQ)🍻 0:00 - Introduction to Ballmer's Peak  💡 1:31 - What Is Ballmer's Peak?  🎉 3:13 - Ballmer's Peak at Font Awesome Snuggle  ⚡ 5:15 - Steve Ballmer and Developer Energy  🚀 7:07 - Achieving Peak Developer Performance  🎶 8:32 - Real Developer Strategies for Peak Performance  🔬 9:06 - DIY Breathalyzer and Exploring Ballmer's Peak  🎬 10:23 - Conclusion and Credits  Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions Font Awesome on Social  🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com 🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome 📸 Instagram: @font.awesome💼 LinkedIn:   / fontawesome   🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt chats with Font Awesome co-founder Dave Gandy about building a workplace that doesn’t just work — but works for everyone. Whether you’re hustling in a startup, navigating open-source communities, or just trying to figure out if your boss actually values your humanity, this one’s for you.  Dave dishes on the magic of finding the right co-founder (hint: they need to tell you when you're off your rocker), why open-source is about more than just writing code, and how empathy might just be the ultimate leadership hack.  So, if you’re dreaming of cultivating a positive work culture — or just want to avoid soul-sucking jobs — this episode is for you. Timestamp Summary 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 0:15 | Finding Balance and Empathy in Co-Founder Relationships  🏢 6:04 | Finding a Workplace That Values Employees as Human Beings  🌐 14:56 | The Value of Empathy and Community in Open Source  💡 19:29 | Empathy and Leadership: Building Teams That Care  🎙️ 24:27 | Behind the Scenes of Podcast Awesome Production   Key Takeaways:  The Co-Founder Code: Pick a partner who balances your strengths and isn’t afraid to call out your crazy ideas (yes, you have them).  Open Source Awesomeness: It’s not just about profit—it’s about passion, collaboration, and making something bigger than yourself.  Empathy is Everything: Forget power suits; your best leadership tool is actually understanding your team.  Work-Life Reality Check: When scouting a new job, look for a place that respects *you*, not just what you produce.  Leadership Done Right: The best managers focus on building teams that are better than them at what matters most.  Notable Quotes:  💡 “You need someone next to you that’s going to tell you when you’re crazy—or not—and that is of *such* extreme value.”  💖 “Empathy is your qualification for leadership.”  🚀 “Management is more about how you inspire and execute, not just delivering outcomes.”  🏆 “The best managers hire people who are better than them at the job that needs to be done.”  🌟 “You call it a lifestyle company like it’s a bad thing. Spoiler: every company is a lifestyle.”  Resources:  🎨 Font Awesome: FontAwesome.com  🐦 Twitter: @fontawesome 📸 Instagram: @font.awesome 🌌 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fontawesome.com 🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/ 🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/ 🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Ready to geek out? In this episode of Podcast Awesome's Nerd Show and Tell, Matt sits down with none other than Zach Leatherman, the tech dynamo and creator behind Eleventy — the static site generator that’s got web devs buzzing. Zach’s tech-world experience is a wild ride of innovation, grit, and love for the open web. With a little help from our team here at Font Awesome, Zach’s pushing to make open-source sustainable and bring back the glory days of personal websites, free from algorithm overlords.Zach gets real about the rollercoaster ride of building Eleventy and why owning your corner of the internet is more important than ever. Expect some hot takes on the tech industry, social media, and how platforms like Eleventy could just be the ticket to a new wave of web independence. Plus, you’ll get a peek into the collaborative brainpower with our founders Dave and Travis backing Zach’s mission. Hold onto your icons — this one’s packed!Key Takeaways:Eleventy: Zach’s creation was inspired by Jekyll, but it’s packed with unique features — no messy databases or plugins here! Simple, secure, and seriously impressive.Sustainable Open Source: Zach’s career shines a light on the need for open-source projects to be sustainable, allowing devs to thrive without burning out.Browser Dev Tools Love: Remember Firebug? Zach does. He spills on how these tools have shaped modern web development practices.Indie Web Comeback: Forget the social media maze. Zach’s all about owning your digital real estate, championing a return to independent web publishing.Font Awesome Collab: It’s a team effort! With the support of our founders and a shared mission, we’re backing Zach and Eleventy for a brighter, algorithm-free web future.Timestamp Summary  🚀 0:00 | Zach Leatherman Discusses Eleventy and Open Source Challenges  💸 1:59 | Navigating the Challenges of Open Source Project Funding  ⚖️ 13:04 | Balancing Open Source Passion with Sustainable Business Models  🌟 20:15 | The Joy of Building Websites and Creative Storytelling  🧻 25:26 | Debating the Proper Way to Hang Toilet Paper  🌌 26:27 | Eleventy's Future and Integration into the Awesome Universe  Links and Resources:Twitter: @fontawesomeInstagram: @font.awesomeEleventy DocumentationZach Leatherman on GitHubCredits:Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

🎙 In this episode, Font Awesome founder Dave Gandy joins our host Matt Johnson for an honest, unfiltered convo about what it means to build a *lifestyle company* (and wear that badge proudly 💪). This isn’t your typical startup hustle. We’re diving into the “people-first” culture that makes Font Awesome a standout, from character-driven hiring to redefining what success means beyond growth on charts and graphs. 🏆💼As Dave says, instead of climbing someone else’s ladder, Font Awesome is building its own way up, with purpose, transparency, and some solid work-life balance goals. Here’s why we believe that putting *people* over profit isn’t just good business — it’s just the way the work should be. 🌱💼  🔑 Key Takeaways:Lifestyle Company, Proudly: We’re embracing the “lifestyle” label, focusing on growth, happiness, and well-being over sky-high returns. 📈💆‍♂️Character > Skills: At Font Awesome, character-first hiring = trust, respect, and people who actually *want* to stick around. 🫶✨ VC Vibes Not Required: Font Awesome skips the “thousand-X-or-bust” mentality for a sustainable, fulfilling work culture. 👋💸  Life Outside Work Matters: The best parts of life are outside the office—so why not bring those values in? 🏠🌅 The Right Partner in Crime: Success means finding a partner who balances your quirks. 👯‍♂️ The perfect co-founder is a friend, critic, and cheerleader rolled into one.Timestamp Summary0:12 | 🌱 Building a Lifestyle Company Focused on Well-Being and Growth  6:52 | 💼 Creating a People-First Company Against Conventional Practices  12:04 | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Human-Centric Product Design and Company Culture  15:59 | 🤝 The Importance of Balanced Partnerships in Business  20:38 | 🫶 Embracing a People-First Culture at Font AwesomeLinks and Resources:Podcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/Font Awesome Hiring Philosophy: https://blog.fontawesome.com/company-culture/Twitter: @fontawesomeCredits:Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

In this edition of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Font Awesome founder, Dave Gandy, at the 2024 Snuggle in Bentonville, Arkansas. Between karaoke sessions and Hoobastank choruses (blame Ed), Matt and Dave discuss a topic on a lot of minds lately: How do you build a company where people actually want to stick around?With a tech industry average of just 18 months at a job, Font Awesome breaks the mold — no one has left in over 10 years. Dave and Matt dive into Font Awesome’s  hiring philosophy, the importance of building a people-first culture, and how giving employees autonomy and treating them like adults might just be the magic recipe for success. Key Takeaways:Loyalty Beyond the Paycheck: At Font Awesome, it’s about treating people as humans first — loyalty comes from loyalty. Simple, right?Hire for Character: Skills are important, but character and culture fit are what truly makes a team thrive.Autonomy Matters: Give people the freedom to make decisions, and watch creativity and innovation skyrocket.It’s Not Just Business: A company’s culture is built on everything someone brings from outside of work, not just the hours they log in the office.Timestamp Breakdown:0:05 | 🎤 Welcome to the Snuggle: Karaoke, Game Nights, & Company Culture2:30 | 🏢 The Importance of Building a People-First Culture in Tech6:45 | 🧠 How Loyalty and Trust are Built When You Hire for Character11:10 | 👨‍💻 Autonomy is Key: Why Giving Employees Freedom is Essential15:55 | 💡 Solving Problems vs. Solving Interesting Problems: Finding the Balance21:30 | 🚀 How Font Awesome Created a Company People Want to Stick WithLinks and Resources:Podcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/Font Awesome Hiring Philosophy: https://blog.fontawesome.com/company-culture/Twitter: @fontawesomeCredits:Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt and Rob take you on a wild ride through the evolution of web icons — because who doesn’t love a good glow-up story? From the pixelated mess of Geocities and MySpace days (RIP low-res images) to the sleek world of custom web fonts and SVG's moment in the sun, they break down each tech's pros and cons so you don’t have to.Ever wondered how icons went from blurry to brilliant? We've got questions and Rob’s got the answers! He explains how web fonts came in like a hero to save the day, improving performance and making your designs look sharp when retina screens appeared on the scene. But wait—SVGs are here too, offering even more flexibility, accessibility, and crispness for those big graphic-heavy projects. Plus, with Font Awesome Kits, you’ll learn how to easily mix and match your icons for peak performance without breaking a sweat.So. What kind of icon is best for your project — Webfont or SVG. Rob dodges the dogmatism and simply says, "well, it depends." Key Takeaways:Evolution of Icon Technology: An overview of the shift from low-resolution images to web fonts and SVGs, highlighting their impact on web design.Pros and Cons: Detailed comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of web fonts and SVGs, including aspects like performance, accessibility, and usability.Font Awesome Kits: Explanation of how Font Awesome Kits help developers navigate between web fonts and SVGs, offering features to optimize icon usage.Accessibility and Semantics: Discussion on the importance of accessibility and semantic considerations in choosing icon technology.Practical Advice: Guidance on how to decide between web fonts and SVGs for specific projects, with practical examples and insights.Timestamp Summary0:09 | 🌐 The Evolution of Icon Tech on the Web2:16 | 🖼️ Evolution of Web Icons from Images to Custom Fonts7:33 | ⚡ Web Fonts Versus SVGs for Faster and Accessible Icons12:13 | 🔍 Choosing Between SVG and Other Formats Depends on Your Project13:01 | 🎬 Web Fonts Versus SVG: Pros and Cons for Icon Animation15:40 | 🛠️ Making Web Fonts Accessible with Font Awesome Kits16:57 | 🎨 Advantages and Challenges of Using SVGs for Web Icons20:17 | 🚀 Optimizing Font Awesome: Web Fonts vs SVG26:40 | 🔧 Simplifying Font Awesome Upgrades with Kits28:27 | ✅ Making the Right Choice: SVG Versus Web FontPodcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/Font Awesome Pro:  Level up with Font Awesome Pro!Webfont or SVG: Well, it Depends: https://blog.fontawesome.com/svg-or-webfont/ https://fontawesome.com/plansTwitter: @fontawesomeThe Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

💩⚡️ Hold onto your butts, folks, because this episode of Behind the Icon on Podcast Awesome is about to get ...  messy! We’re diving headfirst into the iconic history of one of Font Awesome’s quirkiest creations — the Poo-Storm icon. But if not for the creation of a stinker of a particular emoji, the poo-storm icon may never have come to fruition. It all starts with the legendary rise of the poo emoji, a cultural masterpiece that has made its way into countless texts, memes, and conversations (whether you admit it or not). 💬This episode is packed with everything you never knew you needed to know about emoji and icons, including a hilarious behind-the-scenes look at how Jory Raphael, Font Awesome’s own Icon Making Boss, got an icon mash-up idea. From the humble beginnings of the cloud icon to its thunderous twist into a storm of poo, Jory breaks it all down with plenty of laughs and middle-school humor. ✨💩And yes, "icon creation", "poo emoji origin", and "Font Awesome magic" are the real stars here. Whether you're a design nerd or just here to catch a case of the goofballs, this episode is sure to entertain. 💥Key Takeaways:💩 The history of the poo emoji dates back to the late '90s in Japan 🇯🇵, thanks to Shigetaka Kurita, who basically invented emoji communication as we know it.⚡️ And when boredom and eye-crossing monotony set in on a particularly long day of icon design, Jory Raphael mashed up the poo emoji into something even more fun — thus the Poo-Storm icon was born. 💡 Humor + design is the name of the game at Font Awesome!🌍 Thanks to the Unicode Consortium, the poo emoji officially went global in 2010, becoming the symbol for all things cheeky and lighthearted in digital communication.🎨 Font Awesome’s philosophy? Playful design with a side of absurdity — the Poo Storm icon embodies this perfectly.🚽 Pro tip: The Poo Storm icon isn’t just for giggles — it’s been spotted in the wild at a plumbing company, proving even the weirdest icons have a purpose!Timestamp:0:09 - The Evolution and Cultural Impact of the Poop Emoji 💩4:58 - The Creation of the Poo Storm Icon ⚡️8:04 - The Perfect Use of a Fun Icon 🚽10:20 - Clever Use of Poo Storm Icon on a Home Inspections Website 🏠12:26 - Awesome Theme Song and Video Editing Credits 🎶Notes:💡 Shigetaka Kurita: https://emojipedia.org/shigetaka-kurita/ 🔤 Unicode Consortium: https://unicode.org  💩 The Poo-storm Icon: https://fontawesome.com/icons/poo-storm?f=classic&s=solid  🏠 ROI Home Inspections: https://roihomeinspections.com/ 🎨 Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com  🐦 Twitter: @fontawesome: https://twitter.com/fontawesome  📸 Instagram: @font.awesome: https://www.instagram.com/font.awesome 💬 Threads: @font.awesome https://www.threads.net/@font.awesome  💼 LinkedIn: Font Awesome: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fontawesome  🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

In this headbanging episode of Podcast Awesome, we explore the story behind the devil horns gesture—an iconic symbol in the world of heavy metal. 🤘 From its origins in ancient superstitions to its popularization by metal legend Ronnie James Dio, this gesture has a history as rich as the riffs that accompany it. We also chat with Font Awesome’s own Jory Raphael, the creative mind behind the hand horns icon, to get an inside look at how this powerful symbol became part of the Font Awesome library. Whether you're a metalhead or just love a good story, this episode is a must-listen! 🎸🕒 Timestamps: ⏳ 00:09 - Heavy Metal and Visual Cues🤘 00:35 - The Double Horns Hand Gesture🧙‍♂️ 02:08 - Origin of the Devil Horns Gesture🎤 02:49 - Ronnie James Dio and the Devil Horns🧿 05:11 - The Evil Eye and Cultural Connections🤟 06:56 - The Devil Horns as a Metalhead Salute🎨 07:41 - The Creation of the Hand Horns Icon🚀 09:56 - Call to Action for Font Awesome Community🎧 12:36 - Credits and Closing Remarks#DevilHorns #HeavyMetal #PodcastAwesome #IconDesign #MetalCulture #RonnieJamesDioPodcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/Hand Horns Icon: https://fontawesome.com/icons/hand-hornsFont Awesome Pro: Ready to rock? Level up with Font Awesome Pro! https://fontawesome.com/plansTwitter: @fontawesomeThe Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Ever wonder how a chaotic internet meme became an iconic design? Join us in this episode as we dive into the fascinating journey of the Dumpster Fire icon—from its fiery beginnings as a viral GIF to its status as a symbol of modern times. 🔥 (And if you want ever more entertainment from this episode, make sure to check out the YouTube version!) We’ll explore the history behind the phrase “dumpster fire,” its cultural impact, and how it inspired the creation of one of Font Awesome’s most beloved icons. Plus, hear behind-the-scenes stories from our design team and discover why this icon is as relevant as ever!🕒 Timestamps: ⏳ 00:00 Intro and Overview of the Dumpster Fire👋 01:15 Origins of the Phrase "Dumpster Fire"📈 03:22 The Rise of the Dumpster Fire Meme🖥️ 05:45 Tracing the Source of the Original Dumpster Fire GIF🎨 07:35 Designing the Dumpster Fire Icon for Font Awesome🔥 09:10 Why the Dumpster Fire Icon Belongs in the Political Category💡 11:50 Fun Facts and Design Insights from the Font Awesome Team🙌 14:20 How You Can Use the Dumpster Fire Icon in Your Projects🎉 16:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts#DumpsterFire #FontAwesome #IconDesign #MemeCulture #InternetHistoryPodcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/YouTube video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/8X40p-kfxYo Dumpster Fire Icon: https://fontawesome.com/icons/dumpster-fireFont Awesome Pro: Want to put the Icon Wizard to use? Grab a Font Awesome Pro subscription! https://fontawesome.com/plansThe Origin of the Internet's Most Famous Dumpster Fire: https://www.entrepreneur.com/science-technology/the-origin-of-the-internets-most-famous-dumpster-fire/284041 Twitter: @fontawesomeThe Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin https://ronniemartin.org/Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions https://www.lemonproductions.ca/Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

The Story Behind the Mullet Icon: Celebrating an Enduring Cultural Symbol 🎬 Join us as we delve into the resilient history of the mullet, from its uncertain origins to its pop culture prominence in the '80s and '90s. 🎸 Learn about the creation of Font Awesome's 'User Mullet' icon and enjoy entertaining stories from team members who sported mullets. ✂️ Discover the evolution of this iconic hairstyle and how it has shaped popular culture over the decades.🕒 Timestamps:⏳ 00:00 The Enduring Legacy of the Mullet  👋 00:55 Introduction to the Series  📜 01:24 Historical Origins of the Mullet  🎤 02:19 Cultural Impact and Popularity  📚 03:17 Etymology and Alternative Names  🔄 05:13 The Mullet's Modern Resurgence  🖌️ 05:35 Creating the Mullet Icon  🎨 06:10 Design Insights from Jory Raphael  🎉 08:47 Personal Mullet Stories  🙌 15:57 Conclusion and Community Engagement#MulletMadness #FontAwesome #IconicStyles #PopCulture #MulletIconPodcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/User-hair-mullet icon: https://fontawesome.com/search?q=user%20hair%20mullet&o=rTwitter: @fontawesomeThe Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

In this deep dive into the creation of Font Awesome's Sharp Icon Set, designers Jory and Noah share the behind-the-scenes story of transforming a casual idea into a reality. Jory recounts the unplanned inception of the Sharp Icon Set, initially just a bullet point on a whiteboard that evolved into a full-fledged project due to a promotional video. The discussion sheds light on the challenges they faced, such as maintaining consistency with the existing icon grid sizes and artboard constraints, while exploring the potential for new design directions in the future. Noah elaborates on his journey from Figma advocate to a pivotal member of the Font Awesome team, charged with defining the rules and styling for a sharp rendition of their iconic set.Timestamp Summary | 0:01:04  | The idea of Sharp icons accidentally made it into a video. | 0:02:01  | Sharp icons originated during a brainstorming session. | 0:03:31  | The concept of sharp icons was included in the version six video. | 0:04:09  | We'd committed ourselves to Sharp icons, and Noah was hired to help. | 0:06:26  | Noah played a significant role in designing the Sharp icons. | 0:07:47  | Noah initially declined to help, but eventually joined the team. | 0:09:44  | Jory worked on the Sharp icons while quarantined with COVID. | 0:10:53  | Matt and Noah collaborated on copy and graphics for the Sharp icons. | 0:11:47  | The main challenge was adapting the icons to a different grid size. | 0:12:20  | The challenges of maintaining consistency between icon families. | 0:12:50  | Making design choices to ensure compatibility with existing designs. | 0:13:33  | The challenges of showcasing different icon families on the website. | 0:14:18  | Updating icon search to include references to Sharp & Classic styles. | 0:15:03  | Jory and Matt discuss the user-friendly design of the icon search tool. | 0:15:26  | The complexity of managing a large number of icons and styles. | 0:16:22  | How Noah got involved with the Sharp project and his initial work. | 0:18:22  | Noah and Jory's collaboration on a Figma event. | 0:19:22  | Noah explains how he joined the Sharp project. | 0:20:36  | Noah discusses the challenges of creating Sharp icons. | 0:21:24  | The visual density between rounded and sharp corners in icons. | 0:22:39  | Establishing constraints for the Sharp icon set. | 0:25:11  | Using Sharp icon sets and their suitability for different types of UI. | 0:26:37  | Sharp icons work well with stark and geometric typefaces. | 0:27:51  | Sharp icons may be suitable for fintech and professional themes. | 0:28:16  | The difference between icon families and styles in Font Awesome. | 0:30:38  | Choosing the right icon weight based on the legibility required. | 0:32:23  | New icons based on a mathematical shape called the super ellipse. | 0:32:51  | Good design should go unnoticed and guide the user intuitively.Show NotesFont Awesome: Font Awesome WebsiteTwitter: @fontawesomeThe Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Dive into the wild world of web development with the Web Awesome team! Listen as Matt, Lindsay, and the (podcast) elusive Corey dish about their successful Kickstarter, the alpha launch of Web Awesome, and the exciting future of web components. You'll get the inside scoop on their perfectionist struggles, theming API adventures, and how they're revolutionizing the way teams collaborate. Plus, bonus cat cameos!Timestamp Summary | 0:10  | Web Awesome Alpha Launch and Team Reflections | 3:22  | Redesigning Theming API for Web Awesome's Alpha Release | 9:22  | Challenges in Developing Complex UI Components | 10:49  | Building Web Awesome: From Open Source to Paid Product | 15:38  | Web Awesome Pro Features and Launch Timeline | 19:04  | Revolutionizing Team Collaboration with Functional Design Systems | 23:04  | Exciting Updates on Alpha Release and Lifetime Discounts"I think I can speak for the whole team that we're all a bit of perfectionists, so I don't think we were ever ready to release an alpha."Lindsay - (0:02:54)"The theming was a big thing that I think we wanted to have pretty much a bow on when we released the alpha."Lindsay - (0:03:22)"Shout out to Lindsey for her amazing work on the theming API, which is completely redesigned a lot, lot easier."Cory - (0:03:59)"Shout out to Connor, who's not on this chat today, but he did some amazing work to convert to all of the form controls to use a new API that never existed when these form controls were originally created."Cory - (0:05:59)"We've had quite a few issues reported so far that we're looking into a lot of discussion started."Lindsay - (0:02:27)"Obviously, we couldn't have done this without you."Lindsay - (0:23:23)"I kind of have a component addiction. I really like doing this stuff. So my hobby is also my career, and so that it's cool that that got to converge in such a way that I can work full time on something I actually really enjoy working on."Cory - (0:13:46)----------------------Show NotesFont Awesome: Font Awesome WebsiteWeb Awesome: Kickstarter Website  Twitter: @fontawesomeThe Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

In this episode of Podcast Awesome, host Matt Johnson takes listeners behind the scenes of starting and producing Podcast Awesome. Despite being a newbie to podcasting, Matt shares his journey, from finding the initial idea buried in a Basecamp thread to releasing 20 episodes. He discusses capturing the podcast's vibe, and choosing the right software and equipment. Matt also shares insights from podcasting veteran Matt Carter and highlights the challenges and triumphs of what it takes to capture an authentic feel. And if gear and software is your thing, there's some conversation about that, too. Feeling intimidated by starting your own podcast? Don't know what you're doing? You're in good company, we're figuring it out, too, as we "build the plane in the air." ! Timestamp Summary | 0:00:08  | Introduction to the podcast and its purpose | 0:01:04  | The decision to start recording episodes without much feedback | 0:02:04  | Importance of capturing the podcast's vibe and subject matter | 0:03:33  | Emphasis on Font Awesome's nerdery and company culture | 0:05:14  | Determining the purpose and voice of the podcast | 0:05:47  | Meeting with creative team and understanding brand guidelines | 0:06:25  | Advice from podcasting buddy Matt Carter  | 0:08:06  | Choosing the right software for recording and editing | 0:09:58  | Workflow for editing using GarageBand, Audio Hijack, and Descript | 0:11:50  | Importance of quality gear for audio capture | 0:12:50  | Tips for getting good audio and avoiding common mistakes | 0:13:24  | Creating a checklist for podcasting setup | 0:13:49  | Importance of capturing good audio at the beginning | 0:14:19  | Editing tips: finding the right balance, getting feedback | 0:15:37  | Choosing theme music: options and licensing agreements | 0:16:42  | Using interstitials to create a relaxed atmosphere | 0:18:37  | Nerd show and tell: short episodes featuring team members | 0:19:08  | Constantly improving editing, hosting, and content marketing | 0:19:32  | Getting over the discomfort of hearing one's own voice | 0:19:57  | Rolling the credits: acknowledgments and production detailsQuotesMatt-(0:02:49)"If you've spent any time with developers and designers, then you know they're really into the stuff that they're into, and it tends to be pretty dorky."Matt-(0:04:43)"What's the purpose of your podcast? Maybe it's to share company news, to educate your customers, or to entertain."Matt-(0:06:25)"The whole idea of making sure your conversation partner feels relaxed, and so the conversation feels natural."Matt-(0:08:06)"The good news is that there's a ton of tools out there, and some of them are even free."Matt-(0:09:11)"I started with GarageBand because I had a basic understanding of it from years past recording music demos with friends."Matt-(0:11:50)"I don't know a single soul who likes to hear the sound of their own voice, and I'm definitely no different, but it's just something you have to get over."Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Episode Summary:In this episode of Podcast Awesome we have an inspiring chat with Konnor Rogers, a developer at Web Awesome with a fascinating career trajectory. Starting his professional life as a paramedic and self-teaching his way into web development, Connor's journey epitomizes the relentless pursuit of a  career in technology. Konnor shares insights into his transition from paramedic to coder, highlighting the challenges of being self-taught and the breakthrough opportunities that led to his role alongside Corey at Web Awesome. He discusses current projects such as component development, the intricacies of form association, and the excitement of tackling the much-anticipated Kickstarter stretch goals like date pickers and rich text editors. Listeners can expect to hear a developer-centric conversation enriched with the technical specifics of Web Awesome's ongoing efforts to deliver awesome components to customers.  Timestamp | Summary2:58 | From Paramedic to Web Developer: A Journey of Learning4:05 | Balancing Education, Work, and Family Life4:38 | Discovering and Contributing to Shoelace Components5:04 | From Startup to Microsoft and Beyond6:45 | Unconventional Paths to Tech Careers and Self-Taught Success9:40 | Improving Form Controls in Web Development12:58 | Refining Radio Button Accessibility and Behavior14:09 | Challenges of Building an Accessible Date Picker Component17:02 | Embracing Iterative Progress in Product Development17:03 | Challenges in Building Advanced Web Components20:00 | Early Mornings and Unusual Paramedic Tales23:15 | Discussing Favorite Fonts, Icons, and Web Components25:11 | Competitive Gaming and Balancing Family Life26:42 | Recognizing Personal Limits with Hobby EnthusiasmResources:The Odin Project: An open-source project that provides a free education in web development. The Odin ProjectSyntax FM podcast: A popular tech podcast discussing web development topics that Connor mentioned during the conversation. Syntax FMFont Awesome: Font Awesome WebsiteWeb Awesome: Kickstarter Website  Twitter: @fontawesomeThe Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

Episode Summary:In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we chat with the Lindsay Miller, the first brave soul from the Web Awesome team to take the hot seat on the Nerd Show and Tell. Beginning with a look into the inception of Lindsay's career and her interaction with Font Awesome before joining the Web Awesome team, we discuss the significance of a design system — a topic often shrouded in industry jargon yet fundamental to cohesive digital experiences. Lindsay also recounts  being part of the recent Web Awesome Kickstarter campaign, which hit the 700,000 milestone. Timestamp | Summary0:00 | Chatting Design, Tech, and Font Awesome with Lindsay Miller3:14 | From Solo Designer to Font Awesome Enthusiast4:13 | Embracing Company Culture and Innovative Products6:53 | From Childhood CSS Fascination to UX/UI Professional10:32 | Landing the Dream Job (While Experiencing Imposter Syndrome)14:56 | Addressing Inconsistencies in Development Practices15:54 | Design Systems: Building Blocks for Developer Efficiency19:47 | Developing and Perfecting Thematic Web Design Systems23:47 | Kickstarter Success Brings Exciting Yet Daunting Challenges24:36 | The Complexities of Building an Accessible Date Picker27:59 | Icon Design Delights and the Font Awesome Possum32:37 | Homeownership Inspires Mario-Inspired Wall Art34:59 | Nostalgic Reflections on Star Wars and Creative InspirationsResources:Font Awesome: Font Awesome WebsiteWeb Awesome: Kickstarter Website  Twitter: @fontawesomeThe Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!