This Week in Quality

In episode 113 of This Week in Quality, co-hosts Simon Tomes and Ben Dowen are joined on stage by Callum Akehurst-Ryan for a thoughtful and humorous exploration of what “good enough” really means in software quality. The trio begin with a story about a restaurant refusing to serve a dish that didn’t meet its own standards, which sparks a wider discussion about transparency, honesty, and the courage to say no.That story leads into a deeper look at quality thinking traps. Simon, Ben, and Callum unpack why teams often chase perfection when bronze-level quality is all that’s needed, how ego can get in the way of good decisions, and why pragmatism is an essential quality enabler. They reflect on Cloudflare’s recent outage report as an example of human-centred communication done well, and connect it to the importance of clarity, ownership and care in engineering teams.Callum brings insight into the broader impact of quality beyond end users, highlighting how marketing, support and engineering teams all experience quality in different ways. The group talk about outcomes over output, how to avoid over-engineering, and why narratives are more powerful than reports when influencing culture. The conversation also touches on the risks of “gold-plated” delivery, the curse of knowledge, and how testers can move from tragedy takers to narrative givers.Throughout the episode, the discussion stays grounded in real situations from day-to-day work. It encourages listeners to reflect on their own expectations, question how they set quality bars, and consider where saying “this is good enough” is the most responsible choice.It’s a warm, honest session that invites the community to rethink what quality looks like in practice and to embrace care, clarity and healthy pragmatism in their work.#QualityCulture#QualityNarrative#GoodEnough#Pragmatism#Transparency#QualityEngineering#HumanFactors#QualityMindset

In episode 112 of This Week in Quality, co-hosts Judy Mosley and Ben Dowen welcome Scott Kenyon and Ady Stokes to the stage for an honest and energetic conversation about the meaning of quality engineering in today’s teams. The group explore how the term is used across companies, why definitions vary so widely, and what happens when people bring different expectations to the same role.The discussion begins with a light detour into biscuits and snacks, which quickly becomes a reflection on how familiar words can mean very different things in different contexts. This leads into the main theme of the episode. The panel talk about the blurred vision of quality engineering, the mix of strategy and execution in the work, and the confusion caused when companies use the title to describe very different jobs.Scott shares a moment that sparked his own existential crisis about test leadership and identity. Ady adds perspective on the difference between testing the product and influencing the systems that build it. Judy and Ben help surface the real tension many testers and quality engineers face when role titles shift or expectations grow without support.Throughout the episode the conversation stays grounded in lived experience. The panel explore the rise of tool focused job descriptions, the pressure to fit automation heavy roles, and the growing need for curiosity, resilience, collaboration, and clear communication. They also highlight ongoing work on the new Software Quality Engineering Certificate and invite the community to share audio stories about their day to day work.It is a warm, thoughtful session that encourages listeners to look beyond titles and focus on purpose, clarity, and the real impact of their work.

In episode 111 of This Week in Quality, co-hosts Ben Dowen and Simon Tomes welcome Christine Pinto and Jesper Ottosen to the stage for a lively conversation about the role of quality feedback in modern software teams. The group explore how testers and quality advocates can influence product direction early, not just through testing artefacts, but through meaningful conversations, shared understanding, and timely insights.The panel discuss why testing artefacts such as test cases and plans can become outdated, heavy to maintain, and sometimes disconnected from the real value testers bring. Instead of collecting documents for the sake of documentation, they focus on the usefulness of feedback loops, learning through collaboration, and asking the right questions at the right time. Christine and Jesper share stories from their own experience where feedback changed decisions, shaped better outcomes, and reduced waste.Throughout the episode, Ben and Simon spark discussion with a quick quiz on leadership ideas from recent Leading with Quality conversations. The guests reflect on shifting perceptions of testing, influencing teams without authority, and supporting quality as a shared responsibility. It is an energetic, thoughtful session that encourages listeners to prioritise learning, alignment, and improvement over artefacts that no longer serve a purpose.

In episode 110 of This Week in Quality, co-hosts Simon Tomes and Demi Van Malcot host a spooky Halloween special filled with ghostly bug stories from across the MoTaverse. The episode opens with a chilling introduction from the “digital graveyard” before diving into community tales of fright and fun. From “Wrong branch deployed to production on a Friday” to “It worked on my machine,” testers share their creepiest and most relatable quality nightmares.On stage, Judy Mosley tells of a haunting MUI upgrade that removed all her test IDs and broke dozens of checks. Gary Hawkes recalls a true testing horror from a police system project gone wrong, filled with catastrophic bugs and painful lessons. Ady Stokes brings comic relief with The Rise of the Zombie Emails, a flood of thousands of messages he could not stop. Heleen Van Grootven reminds everyone why you never test in production, after one mistake triggered 100,000 phone calls at once.Between scares, laughter, and community wisdom, Simon and Demi celebrate how testers turn mistakes into learning moments. Episode 110 shows that even in testing’s darkest corners, curiosity, collaboration, and a sense of humour keep the MoT community alive and well.

In episode 109 of This Week in Quality, co-hosts Simon Tomes and Nataliia Burmei guide another happy Friday gathering packed with stories, ideas, and reflections from across the MoTaverse.The episode opens with Nataliia exploring new mobile testing tools, connecting MCP servers to AI agents, and tackling team conversations about shared ownership of testing. Simon shares updates to Ministry of Testing profiles, including new filtering features, GitHub links, and the growing importance of stars, badges, and community recognition.On stage, Scott Kenyon sparks a debate with his question, “Is AI removing curiosity and creativity from testers?” This leads to a thoughtful conversation about critical thinking, collaboration, and human judgment. Neil Taylor joins to share lessons from moving API work from Postman to Bruno and reflects on communication wins across development and support teams. Nadja Schulz celebrates hosting her first MoT Berlin Meetup and stepping onto the public speaking stage. Christine Pinto talks about using MCP servers, cloud code, and Playwright automation in real projects. Gary Hawkes reflects on sharing his MoTacon insights at work and championing continuous quality. Maithilee Chunduri closes by connecting two decades of learning and reminding us that while technology evolves, curiosity remains the same.From AI debates and first-time talks to stars, profiles, and community spirit, “Curiosity Killed the Chat” shows how the community keeps questioning, learning, and celebrating quality together.

In episode 108 of This Week in Quality, host Simon Tomes flies solo for a lively Friday session full of news, bugs, and community updates. The show opens with a real inbox mystery when some attendees receive four reminder emails for the same event. Simon then shares announcements about Professional Membership now including in-person events, new course completion badges, and highlights from MoTaCon 2025, including Rahul Parwal’s photo collection and new talks going live.On stage, Stan Desyatnikov joins for the first time to reflect on balancing manual and automated testing in a long-term project. Ady Stokes shares a simple badge completion tip and updates on the Software Quality Engineering Certificate, while Eamon Droko talks about learning accessibility testing and becoming a conduit for community knowledge. Ben Dowen introduces Service Level Objectives (SLOs) as a practical way to define and measure quality.To close, Judy Mosley expands on her new article “Quality Insight: How to Ignite Quality Conversations,” exploring how listening and curiosity help teams connect around quality. From bug reports and badges to principles and people, this episode celebrates how the Ministry of Testing community keeps quality at the heart of everything they do.

In episode 107, the very first under the new name This Week in Quality, co-hosts Demi Van Malcot and Simon Tomes “test in production” as the show moves to a brand-new hosting platform for the first time. They celebrate the rebrand from This Week in Testing to This Week in Quality, exploring what the shift means for the community and why it reflects the growing focus on quality as a whole-system mindset.Joining them on stage, Eamon Droko, Heleen Van Grootven, Ben Dowen, Ady Stokes, and Nataliia Burmei share their post-MoTaCon reflections, from crafting tables and karaoke moments to first-time talks, community stars, and the power of connection. Together, they test out the new Wistia platform live, find a few bugs along the way, and prove that quality is as much about learning, experimenting, and laughing together as it is about software.

In episode 106 of This Week in Testing, co-hosts Simon Tomes and Ben Dowen look ahead to TestBash Brighton with slide-writing crunch, laptop tips for workshops, and the new Leading with Quality notebook. They also celebrate the buzz of MoT meetups and remind listeners how stepping on stage, even for a 99-second talk, can grow confidence and connection. Joining them on stage, Maithi Chun shares her motivation and learning journey, Ady Stokes brings stories from Test Up North and the roots of accessibility, and Iziren John Chima sparks a lively discussion on taking lead roles without manager pay. Together, they mix career advice, community laughs, and practical tips that show why quality people gather.

In episode 105 of This Week in Testing, co-hosts Nataliia Burmei and Oleksandr Romanov contrast the reality of quality conversations with the hype of AI.Oleksandr shares upcoming MoT events in Valencia, Leeds, and Brighton, while Natalia reflects on the joy of in-person meetups and community memories. Their weeks in testing highlight the value of visualization: from earning the Software Testing Essentials Certificate to using diagrams and AI tools to clarify complex systems.On stage, Ben Dowen introduces the capture–review–update cycle for building shared understanding. Preeti Gupta brings energy from the London MoT Meetup, while Christine Pinto talks quality coaching, preparing conference talks, and excitement for TestBash Brighton.The conversation loops back to AI: the hype around tools like v0 and the steady reminder that while tools evolve, human collaboration, critical thinking, and communication remain at the heart of testing.Together, they explore how testers balance new tools with timeless skills, proving again that quality conversations are very real, even when the AI buzz feels less so.#AIInTesting#QualityCoaching#Visualization#DiagramsAndModels#CommunityMeetups#TestBashBrighton#MoTEvents#Collaboration#CriticalThinking

In episode 104 of This Week in Testing, co-hosts Demi Van Malcot and Simon Tomes embrace the chaos of testing life with the support of the MoTaverse.Demi shares a week filled with laptop migrations, budget cuts, and the upcoming loss of a quality manager. This sparks up conversations about how testers can step up, share responsibility, and keep quality work from falling through the cracks. Simon highlights fresh community content, from Rahul Parwal’s Advanced Prompting for Testers course to Ady Stokes’ new article on testing mindsets.On stage, Eamon Droko talks about the highs and lows of his first month in a new role, leaning on the community to break through a rut. Ady expands on the 11 mindsets behind “I Think, Therefore I Test” and floats ideas for games, talks, and more ways to explore them. Gary Hawkes shares lessons from influencing product direction and reflects on team resilience when leaders leave.From Worldwide Tester Day celebrations to TestBash prep, this episode shows how community support turns uncertainty into opportunity, and how the MoTaverse has your back when work gets messy.#TestingCommunity#QualityEngineering#TestLeadership#ThisWeekInTesting

In episode 103 of This Week in Testing, co-hosts Ben Dowen and Judy Mosley throw “Everyone’s invited to the QA Party!” Judy shares solo-QA tactics like a fun QA Slack channel and “Today is…” prompts that spark team chatter. Ben talks about getting developers into exploratory testing and his first look at Mac desktop automation.Guests Nataliia Burmei and Yudit Sharabi add real-world lessons. Nataliia contrasts fast delivery feedback with slow-burn strategy work. Yudit explains “testing without testers” at a startup, from process upgrades to whole-company QA parties. The group swaps tips on starting quality conversations and using AI to reduce draining tasks and improve code reviews.#TestingCommunity#QualityEngineering#TestAutomation#ThisWeekInTesting

In episode 102 of This Week in Testing, co-hosts Simon Tomes and Sarah Deery shine the spotlight on the launch of the Software Testing Essentials Certificate (STEC) — lovingly nicknamed STEC by the community.Sarah shares the years-long journey that led to its creation, from identifying gaps in existing training to surveying over 160 juniors and managers, and finally co-creating a curriculum with 59 contributors across the globe. Simon reflects on reviewing the lessons, the power of asking the right questions, and why the “portfolio of work” makes STEC different from traditional certificates.Ady Stokes joins to describe his role in shaping the article content and explains how STEC goes deeper than any other introduction to testing, covering not just techniques but also storytelling, communication, and critical thinking. Maneesh Maddala jumps in with questions about localisation, AI, and the future of certifications. The live chat adds humour and energy — from Rosie Sherry’s breaking news that she passed the exam, to debates about whether Ady should sit the test he helped write, to ideas about bug-hunting Easter eggs hidden in certificates.Whether you’re tired of the old ISTQB path, curious about how STEC was built, or just want to hear community voices reflect on shaping the future of testing, this episode is packed with insights, stories, and plenty of laughs.#STEC#TestingCommunity#CareersInTesting#LearningAndDevelopment#ThisWeekInTesting

In this 101st episode of This Week in Testing, co-hosts Mariem Safi and Demi Van Malcot discuss their excitement and preparation for the upcoming TestBash conference in Brighton. The conversation also explores the current state of the testing industry, including the growing prominence of AI and the importance of professional development.Demi kicks off the discussion by sharing her experience balancing new projects and preparing for her first-ever conference talk, "How to Start Continuous Quality in Your Team." She reveals her nervousness but finds encouragement in the advice, "No one in the room wants you to fail." Mariem echoes her excitement, detailing her own TestBash preparations and the challenge of choosing which talks and workshops to attend from the packed schedule.Judy Mosley and Maneesh Maddala join the conversation on stage to share their perspectives. Judy highlights the value of the conference's focus on foundational skills and career development, noting her appreciation for the agenda's variety over an overemphasis on AI. Maneesh, unable to attend the conference in person, raises the question of live-streaming sessions for an international audience and shares his interest in talks about making work more visible and becoming a "testing generalist."Gary Hawkes, a TestBash newcomer like Mariem and Demi, joins the discussion and talks about his excitement for the event and his plan to meet as many people as possible. The episode wraps up with a fun discussion about creating a secret signal or sticker for This Week in Testing community members to recognise each other at the conference.

In this 100th episode of This Week in Testing, co-hosts Mariem Safi and Simon Tomes celebrate the milestone with a lively, wide-ranging conversation, from MCP server hype to the surprise reality of companies making AI usage mandatory, and even tracking it.Christine Pinto kicks things off with her experiences improving performance at Epic Test Quest and ponders how MCP servers could change testing workflows. Eamon Droko shares the big news of landing a new role, plus a teaser for his upcoming conference talk. Maneesh Maddala describes how his company connects MCP servers to tools like Figma and Asana, plus what happens when AI usage is monitored across an organisation.Ady Stokes spotlights the launch of the Software Testing Essentials Certificate (STEC), a project that was over a year in the making, while Gary Hawkes finally makes a successful live mic appearance. Ujjwal Kumar Singh rounds out the discussion with hands-on stories of switching from Gemini to Claude and evaluating LLMs for automation work.From tracking AI usage at work to exploring its practical testing applications, this episode blends milestone celebrations with future-focused debates, honest stories, and practical insights from across the MoTaverse!#AIinTesting#MCPServers#LLMUseCases#STEC#CareerGrowth#TestingCommunity#ThisWeekInTesting

In this milestone 99th episode of This Week in Testing, co-hosts Simon Tomes, Ben Dowen, Demi Van Malcot, Oleksandr Romanov, Mariem Safi, Judy Mosley, and Rosie Sherry gather to celebrate the journey so far. They reflect on how the podcast started as a simple experiment and grew into a weekly space for connection, learning, and community support.Each co-host shares what it’s meant to be part of the experience. From early nerves to finding confidence in co-hosting, they talk about the joy of welcoming new voices and creating a space where everyone can share something valuable. Rosie looks back on the origins of Ministry of Testing and what it means to step forward as both a founder and a participant.The group also highlights how small actions, ike joining the chat or giving a short talk, can lead to bigger moments of growth. There are stories of encouragement, lessons in showing up, and plenty of appreciation for those who make this space what it is. It’s a warm and honest episode about building something meaningful together, one stage at a time.#Episode99#TestingCommunity#CommunityVoices#OriginStories#CoHosting#PublicSpeaking#ConfidenceInTesting#MoTMultiverse#ThisWeekInTesting

In this episode of This Week in Testing, co-hosts Nataliia Burmei and Simon Tomes gather the community for Episode 98 and steer the conversation toward the spicy topic of performance reviews. Joined on stage by Eamon Droko, Olly Fairhall, and Milan Kumar, they explore how testers experience reviews, why they can feel so Marmite, and whether they can be made more useful, fair, or even enjoyable.From using community contributions as evidence of impact to running bug hunts that reveal unexpected insights, the group reflects on the power of visibility, feedback, and shared learning. Nataliia shares her experiments with white-box coding using Cursor AI, while Simon spotlights MoT’s latest platform features, including new Community Stars stats and a much-requested way to follow user profiles.Along the way, Eamon describes how community work creates value inside the workplace, Milan shares his dream of one test stack to rule them all, and Olly celebrates the fresh eyes a team-wide bug hunt can bring. And yes, there’s a surprise mic appearance from Gary Hawkes, setting the stage for the long-awaited chaos of Episode 99, next week!Whether you dread your next review cycle or want ideas for making your work more visible, this episode offers honest stories, smart tactics, and a few Marmite moments that every tester will relate to.#PerformanceReviews#MarmiteDebate#CommunityStars#AIinTesting#BugHunts#CareerGrowth#TestingCommunity#MoTPlatform#TeamQuality#ThisWeekInTesting

In this episode of This Week in Testing, co-hosts Nataliia Burmei and Simon Tomes gather the community for Episode 97 and steer the conversation toward all things TestBash Brighton 2025. Joined on stage by Eamon Droko, Preeti Gupta, and Lynda Hughes, they swap meetup stories, celebrate the latest flurry of Community Stars and certificates, and plot a chaotic—but exciting—Episode 99 reunion of every co-host. Along the way they nudge listeners to help founder Rosie Sherry reach the magic “99 followers” milestone and highlight new micro-features that turn the MoT platform into a treasure hunt for testers.From planning conference budgets and convincing budget-holders, to crafting a personal schedule, spacing out workshops, and remembering to leave camera storage free for those all-important selfies, the group shares practical tips for thriving at large events—plus reminders to keep the conversations going long after the badge lanyards come off. You’ll hear how London meetups sparked spin-off one-to-one calls, why snapping photos preserves community history, and how an Unlimited membership unlocked training, certifications, and a first-ever TestBash for one attendee. Whether you’re plotting your own trip to Brighton or looking for fresh ways to connect between meetups, this episode is packed with encouragement, real-world tactics, and that familiar MoT energy that turns “just another Friday” into a springboard for growth.#TestBashBrighton#ConferenceTips#CommunityStars#Meetups#Networking#LearningAndDevelopment#BudgetingForConferences#CareerGrowth#TestingCommunity#MoTPlatform

In this episode of This Week in Testing, Demi van Malcot and Oleksandr Romanov uncover community stories, feature launches, and personal milestones that defined another busy week in the world of testing. Joined by Rosie Sherry, Emily O’Connor, Jesse Berkeley, and Sarah Byng, they explore how testers are making connections, shaping their careers, and finding new ways to contribute.From discovering hidden features like Q&A stars and linking profiles, to preparing accessibility sessions and launching automation projects, the episode is packed with the small wins and big ideas that keep our community thriving. You’ll hear stories from recent in-person meetups, reflections on the value of sharing knowledge, and a conversation about building confidence to contribute—whether it’s through a post, a talk, or a one-to-one chat. And as always, there are a few secrets sprinkled in too.#CommunityStories#TestingMeetups#TestAutomation#AccessibilityTesting#CareerGrowth#KnowledgeSharing#CommunityFeatures#ExpertGeneralist#MinistryOfTesting#TestingCareers#PublicSpeaking#ContributingToCommunity

In this episode of This Week in Testing, Nataliia Burmei and Ben Dowen open the floor to a community conversation on how testers influence quality through everyday actions. Joined by Christine Pinto, Gary Hawkes, Preeti Gupta, Eamon Droko, and Demi Van Malcot, they share practical stories of leading without needing a leadership title.From supporting remote teams and coaching others to introducing new ways of working and asking timely questions, the episode highlights how testers shape quality culture by stepping up and speaking out. Whether you're early in your career or already guiding teams, this discussion is full of insights on making a difference through action.#QualityLeadership#LeadWithQuality#TestingLeadership#QualityCulture#ThisWeekInTesting#MinistryOfTesting#MoTCommunity#QualityEngineering#TechLeadership#SoftwareTesting#RiskBasedTesting#TestingVisibility#ShiftLeftTesting#ContinuousImprovement

In this episode of This Week in Testing, Simon Tomes and Judy Mosley explore how everyday experiences shape the way we test, from catching bugs with imperfect tests to drawing on real-life situations to improve quality. They’re joined by Mariem Safi, Preeti Gupta, and Emily O'Connor, who share honest stories about starting out, finding unexpected bugs, and preparing to speak in front of others with help from the community. Alongside updates from the MoTaverse, the episode is a down-to-earth reminder that testers don’t need to have it all sorted! It's just about being willing to get involved, ask questions, and figure things out when it counts.#SoftwareTesting #QualityEngineering #TestingCommunity #CareerGrowth #PublicSpeaking #BugReporting #RealWorldTesting #ConfidenceInTesting #MoTaverse #TestBash #LearningThroughTesting #FirstTimeSpeakers #EverydayTesting #PeerSupport #TesterMindset