Roundabout: Creative Chaos

Dave Thomas is a programmer, author, publisher, and one of the original authors of the Agile Manifesto. He co-authored The Pragmatic Programmer with Andy Hunt and later co-founded the Pragmatic Bookshelf, applying software development practices to the way technical books are written, produced, tested, updated, and published.In this episode, Dave talks about discovering programming as a teenager, writing The Pragmatic Programmer, bringing Ruby to an English-speaking audience, and helping create the Agile Manifesto. We also get into the origins of code kata, using AI without surrendering judgment to it, the decline of technical publishing, writing Simplicity, and what developers need to learn when generating code is easier than ever.In this episode:How the Agile Manifesto came together and why Dave believes the movement lost its original focusUsing feedback, iteration, and reversible decisions to change direction without losing everythingWhere code kata came from and what repetition teaches programmersWhy using AI effectively still requires knowing how to do the work yourselfHow Dave discovered programming and found a way to express his ideas through codeHow consulting notes became The Pragmatic ProgrammerWhy Dave and Andy Hunt decided to start the Pragmatic BookshelfHow software development practices shaped the way the Pragmatic Bookshelf produced booksWriting Simplicity and working with an editor for the first timeWhat AI and changing reading habits mean for technical publishingWhy Dave measures professional success by the effect his work has had on other peopleThe story behind his family's zombie apocalypse cellarTopics: software development, programming, agile development, Agile Manifesto, artificial intelligence, code kata, technical writing, publishing, Pragmatic Bookshelf, The Pragmatic Programmer, RubyRoundabout: Creative Chaos is a podcast hosted by Tammy Coron exploring creativity, design, and technology. Listen at roundaboutcreativechaos.com and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Venkat Subramaniam is a programmer, author, educator, and founder of Agile Developer. His career has taken him from computer architecture and software development to teaching, consulting, speaking, and writing books.In this episode, Venkat talks about the unexpected decisions that changed the direction of his career, including volunteering to teach C before he really knew the language. We also get into how teaching changed the way he learns, what writing books taught him about feedback, and why he believes software development is as much about discipline as it is about technology.In this episode:How Venkat found his way from engineering to software developmentLearning C by volunteering to teach itWhy teaching became such an important part of his careerWriting books and learning to value critical feedbackWhat agile development means to Venkat and why adaptive planning mattersHow his thinking about AI has changedTopics: software development, programming, agile development, teaching, technical writing, AI, software qualityRoundabout: Creative Chaos is a podcast hosted by Tammy Coron exploring creativity, design, and technology. Listen at roundaboutcreativechaos.com and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Adam Tow has spent decades exploring what technology can do and building tools to solve problems he encounters along the way. A longtime Apple developer and technologist, he's created software ranging from early Newton applications to MixEffect, ActionPhrase, and his latest app, C1B.C1B grew out of Adam's experience helping care for his father during cancer treatment. Faced with medications, appointments, schedules, notes, and information spread across multiple places, Adam built an app around the realities of day-to-day caregiving. His approach reflects a pattern that runs throughout his career: see a problem, understand it, and build something useful.In this episode:Growing up with the Apple II and discovering software developmentWhy Adam builds apps to solve problems he encounters himselfCreating MixEffect and ActionPhraseHow caregiving for his father led to C1BUsing AI agents to develop softwareWhat AI could mean for the future of programmingIn the after show: Adam shares another major chapter of his career: nearly 15 years with All Things D, Recode, and Vox Media, where he had a front-row seat to the changing technology industry.Topics: Apple, software development, AI, caregiving, C1B, indie developmentRoundabout: Creative Chaos is a podcast hosted by Tammy Coron exploring creativity, design, and technology. Listen at https://roundaboutcreativechaos.com and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Bob Wegner has spent decades making music and digging into the history behind it. A multi-instrumentalist, music historian, archivist, and writer, Bob has worked with artists including Rush and Led Zeppelin and performed with Classic Albums Live. He is also the author of Max Webster: High Class, a book that took seven years to research and write.From his own music to his deep dive into one of Canada's most distinctive rock bands, Bob brings a mix of research, firsthand experience, and a genuine love of music history. His work with Max Webster goes far beyond the songs, uncovering the people, performances, photographs, recordings, and stories that document the band's place in Canadian rock.In this episode:Bob's journey as a musician and music historianHow his interest in Max Webster became a seven-year book projectResearching the people, performances, and stories behind the bandWhat makes Max Webster's music and career so distinctiveThe challenges of documenting music historyPreserving the stories behind Canada's rock historyTopics: music, Max Webster, Canadian rock, songwriting, music history, booksAudio note: Due to an issue with the original recording, you may notice a few audio imperfections in this episode. We've restored the audio as much as possible while preserving the conversation. Thanks for your understanding.Roundabout: Creative Chaos is a podcast hosted by Tammy Coron exploring creativity, design, and technology. Listen at https://roundaboutcreativechaos.com and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Kaine "Korp" Kulczak built a creative community around a simple idea: drawing is something anyone can do. After more than twenty years working in an office, he transformed a lifelong passion for art into Korp Academy, helping people rediscover creativity without fear of making mistakes.Rather than focusing on technical perfection, Korp encourages people to pick up a pen, experiment, and develop confidence through practice. His workshops, online classes, and livestreams have grown into a worldwide community built around the belief that imperfect creations can reveal personal style, curiosity, and joy.In this episode:Why drawing with pens helps people embrace creative riskBuilding confidence by learning through mistakesGrowing an art community from local workshops to a global audienceHelping adults reconnect with creativityFinding a personal artistic voice instead of chasing perfectionUsing online teaching to make art more accessibleTopics: drawing, art education, creativity, creative confidence, illustration, online learningAudio note: Due to an issue with the original recording, you may notice a few audio imperfections in this episode. We've restored the audio as much as possible while preserving the conversation. Thanks for your understanding.Roundabout: Creative Chaos is a podcast hosted by Tammy Coron exploring creativity, design, and technology. Listen at https://roundaboutcreativechaos.com and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.