Best Christopher Ruff Podcasts (2025)

1
#195: Patterns, paradigms, and pythonic thinking with Rodrigo Girão Serrão 51:00

Play Pause

6d ago51:00

51:00

In this ep, we chat with Rodrigo Girão Serrão about his journey from mathematician to Pythonista. What started as a colleague’s tip turned into 11 years of Python exploration. Rodrigo shares how his background in APL reshaped the way he writes Python, helping him embrace list comprehensions and functional patterns more intuitively. We dig into his …

1
#194: Evolution, not extinction: why developers still matter in the age of AI 39:09

13d ago39:09

39:09

In this episode, we dive into AI’s impact on software development with Matt Makai, VP of Developer Relations at DigitalOcean and creator of Full Stack Python. We explore how AI tools are changing coding workflows—from elite devs like Miguel Grinberg and Armin Ronacher to Matt’s own work on the AI-powered PlushCap app. While some see friction, other…

1
Episode 87: Colin Hart - Singer/Songwriter Solo Artist 1:12:14

13d ago1:12:14

1:12:14

I was leaving a concert last month in beautiful Portsmouth, NH. A friend of mine and I walked from our hotel, about a mile into downtown to see Zepparella, a band who's members have been on previous episodes. On the walk back to our hotel, it started raining, heavily. We had to dive for cover in a nearby bar. As we entered, we see this guy singing …

1
#193: Why coding alone sucks! 20:29

21d ago20:29

20:29

In this episode, we share our own experiences of what it’s like to code in isolation — and why it held us back more than we realised at the time. When you're working solo, it’s easy to miss out on learning opportunities, fall into unhelpful habits, or lose momentum altogether. But when you start coding alongside others, everything shifts. We talk a…

1
Episode 86: Gretchen Menn - Musician/Guitar Player Zepparella 1:18:11

27d ago1:18:11

1:18:11

For episode #86, I welcome an absolute guitar virtuoso and an even better human being, Gretchen Menn. Gretchen is the lead guitar player for the Led Zeppelin Tribute Project, Zepparella. She also has recorded several solo albums and has a strong presence, (no pun intended) on YouTube where she has over 44K subscribers and over 80 instructional vide…

1
#192: Coding smarter not harder - 5 key ways to succeed as a developer 33:42

1M ago33:42

33:42

Are you ready to level up your Python skills? In this episode we share the five common mistakes that hold learners back, and how to avoid them. From setting clear goals to building simple, impactful projects, we’ll show you how to turn scattered effort into strategic growth. Learn to stay focused in a world full of distractions, seek mentorship con…

1
#191: Code, click, cloud - how Sebastián Ramírez is taking FastAPI to the next level 45:16

2M ago45:16

45:16

Sebastián Ramírez returns in this episode to share the evolution of his journey from open-source developer to company founder, with the launch of FastAPI Cloud. After creating tools used by developers worldwide, Sebastián explains how he found a critical gap in the app creation process - the painful transition from local development to production d…

1
Episode 85: Andy Frye - Author, Music and Sports Writer 1:22:25

2M ago1:22:25

1:22:25

Returning to the AlbumReview.Net podcast is sportswriter, music writer and book author Andy Frye. Andy was a guest back in 2022 on Episode #39 and I’m delighted to have him back again! Andy is currently a sportswriter for Forbes and has previously written for Rolling Stone, ESPN, and other publications. During our last conversation, we discussed in…

1
#190: The power shift - Flexa’s data-driven energy revolution 33:02

2M ago33:02

33:02

What if you could tap into a more affordable and efficient energy system, all while supporting grid stability? Tune in to our fascinating conversation with Robin Beer, energy data scientist at Flexa, a startup revolutionising the way we consume electricity. Robin shares the process of creating a virtual power plant that enables consumers to utilise…

1
#189: The Year of Oui: Huy Nguyen on Connection, Community and Showing Up 49:06

2M ago49:06

49:06

This episode is a bit special. Julian is joined by one of his closest friends and former AWS colleagues, Huy Nguyen, to talk about something we often overlook in our careers and lives — the power of genuine human connection. In 2024, Huy made an unusual choice. He chose to get off the hamster wheel and take a career break to focus the entire year o…

1
#188: Career crossroads - navigating the path to job fulfillment 36:28

3M ago36:28

36:28

In this episode, Andrea Gosselink, career coach and former HR executive, joins us to unpack the complicated feelings that arise when we find ourselves at a career crossroad. Drawing from both her personal journey and client experiences, Andrea shares why so many successful people still feel unfulfilled despite achieving traditional markers of caree…

1
Episode 84: The Cranberries - No Need to Argue 36:34

3M ago36:34

36:34

Many of you reading (or listening to) this immediately equate The Cranberries to lead singer Dolores O’Riordan’s distinctive accent as she belts out lyrics from the track Zombie, (Zaaa-haaa-aaam-bi!) And that is precisely why I chose to review this album. I’ve picked up on the many decades of poking or ribbing by friends when it comes to Dolores’ v…

1
#187: Beyond the resume - how to stand out in the competitive world of tech 20:28

3M ago20:28

20:28

The tech job market has become increasingly challenging with ongoing layoffs and strong competition for available positions. How can developers stand out when everyone seems to have the same credentials? This episode tackles the essential strategies needed to navigate this difficult landscape. We discuss how imperfect positions can still offer grow…

1
#186: Rethinking the art of coding 31:32

3M ago31:32

31:32

Rye Whalen sees profound connections between nature and software development that many developers miss. With expertise in hardware, software, and teaching cybersecurity, they uncover how natural systems can inspire better software-building strategies. Rye explains how they approach algorithmic thinking by focusing on foundational base cases and how…

1
Episode 83: Rush - Presto 1:26:37

3M ago1:26:37

1:26:37

Joining Greg on episode #83 is Alon Ferency. Alon is a Rabbi, a Creativity Consultant, Counselor and Coach. He is also a cross-country bicyclist, Peace Corps volunteer, author, concert producer, chaplain, and like Greg, a HUGE fan of the Canadian Rock Trio, Rush. Alon reached out to Greg a few months ago. The two had a great introduction and bonded…

1
#185: Expanding the world of Pybites with cohort coaching, book platforms and more! 26:13

3M ago26:13

26:13

PyBytes is taking an exciting step forward with the introduction of cohort-based Python coaching, creating an accessible learning pathway for developers worldwide. After five successful years working with over 200 clients through 1:1 coaching, this new model provides opportunities for collaboration, networking, and group problem solving - skills th…

1
Episode 82: Holly West Returns - Bassist for Dead Groove and Zepparella 1:06:12

4M ago1:06:12

1:06:12

Holly West joins Greg for Interview #2. Holly is the bassist and leader singer for the LA Rock Band, Dead Groove. She is also the bass player for the Led Zeppelin Power Tribute Group, Zepparella. In this episode Holly and Greg talk about Dead Groove’s new EP, Rubicon, set to be released on March 21st 2025. This includes how her band prepped, wrote,…

1
#184: The pathway to success - how an open mind can lead to your dream job 35:46

4M ago35:46

35:46

The road to landing a dream developer job is often paved with persistence, continuous learning, and a willingness to look beyond traditional tech hubs. In this episode, CJ Stein shares his journey from mechanical engineer to software developer at a cheese manufacturing company. Throughout our conversation we're reminded that developer jobs exist ev…

1
#183: AI’s silent takeover - are we losing our programming skills? 37:03

4M ago37:03

37:03

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world of coding, raising vital questions about our approach to software development. In this episode, we unpack the implications of AI on programming skills and the future of learning to code. As AI increasingly handles various programming tasks, some developers are concerned that new, and even seasoned, cod…

1
Episode 81: Album Fight - Ramones vs The Clash w/ special guest Pete A. Turner 2:10:18

4M ago2:10:18

2:10:18

Special Guest Pete A. Turner joins Greg Potters to talk about his life as an Army Combat Spy. They also engage in an ALBUM FIGHT, pitting two infamous punk albums against each other: The Ramones self-titled 1976 debut vs The Clash’s, 1979 album, London Calling Pete is the executive producer and host of the Break It Down Show (also known as the BIDS…

1
#182: Coding for a cure - how Victoria Kolmac is shaping the future of bio-medical engineering with Python 55:49

5M ago55:49

55:49

Meet the incredibly talented Victoria Kolmac, a university student with a passion for the intersection of biomedical engineering and computer science. Victoria shares her fascinating journey with us, outlining how she and her team built a pulse oximeter from scratch using Python and ESP32 microcontrollers, as well as her work on an advanced project…

1
Episode 80: Sarah Seltzer - Author & Music Aficionado 51:07

5M ago51:07

51:07

Joining Greg in Episode #80 is author, writer and music aficionado, Sarah Seltzer. Sarah hails from New York City where she lives with her family. Her publications include writing pieces for the New York Times, Glamour, Cosmopolitan Jezebel and TIME. Sarah is currently the executive editor for Lilith Magazine. She is also the author of a recent Nov…

1
#181 - From Olympic Lifting to Data Engineer: Tim Frazer’s Unconventional Path to Success 37:20

5M ago37:20

37:20

Tim Frazer shares his remarkable journey from a homeschooled kid on the Canadian coast to an entrepreneur in Philadelphia. He recounts his early life, influenced by two contrasting educational philosophies, and how this paved the way for his career in operations and software development. This episode delves into the parallels between sports and cod…

1
#180 - Transforming DevOps with Generative AI 31:18

6M ago31:18

31:18

Generative AI is revolutionising DevOps practices by streamlining incident management, enhancing collaboration, and enabling automation. In this episode, Bob chats with Chris Williams - Developer Relations Manager for HashiCorp - about the future of Ai in the tech industry. Throughout the episode, we discuss the practical applications of AI, addres…

1
#179 - AI, Developers, and the Future of Code 32:08

6M ago32:08

32:08

Could AI make developers a thing of the past in the world of coding? Join us on the Pybites Podcast as we, Julian Sequeira and Bob Beldebos, explore this compelling question and share our personal experiences with AI's integration into our Python projects. After we quickly recount our holiday experiences, we kick off the new year with reflections o…

1
#178 - Bridging Africa’s Employment Gap With Our New Coding Platform 🎉 31:16

7M ago31:16

31:16

We're back with a brand new episode, on our 8th anniversary today, the 19th of Dec. 🥳 We have some exciting updates, mainly around our new v2 platform and how it's going to impact people in Africa, new things that are coming, and of course book tips. 📈 Happy holidays 😎 and thanks for tuning in! 🙏 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:10 News, community shout ou…

1
Episode 79: Sean Neumann - Interview with the Bassist for Chicago based rock band, Ratboys 47:48

7M ago47:48

47:48

In this episode, I am joined by writer, journalist and bass player for the Chicago Quartet, Ratboys, Sean Neumann. I’m very pleased to welcome Sean on the podcast. Sean is a member of a rock band that I have been gripped by for the past 6 months. I’m relatively new to their music, but in the past 6 months, I have certainly gotten up to speed with t…

1
Episode 78: Christopher Thiel - Drummer from The Aura & Ovation 1:00:42

7M ago1:00:42

1:00:42

Episode #78 - This is a conversation with music clips included. In this episode Greg talks with a musician and the drummer from The Aura & Ovation, Christopher Thiel. Greg met in San Diego, CA four weeks ago. While stopping off quickly at a grocery store, this guest saw Greg's ALBUMREVIEW shirt and asked if he would take a listen to his band. What …

1
#177 - From Dancing to Python: Sara Moad's Inspiring Tech Transition 47:01

8M ago47:01

47:01

What happens when a professional dancer trades it in for a keyboard? Join us as we uncover the incredible journey of Sara Moad, who went from being a professional dancer to managing tech solutions as a Solutions Architect at Sydney Airport. Her transition wasn't just about switching careers; it was about embracing change, self-belief, and the profo…

1
#176 - Leveraging Rust: Dan Dresser’s Journey to Speed Up His Trading App 44:59

8M ago44:59

44:59

This week, we’re joined by Dan Dresser, who shares how he re-built his trading app in Rust, see also his community win post: Wrote a Trading App in Rust We dive into the app's purpose, the performance challenges he encountered, and how Rust became the best solution for increasing performance demands. Dan shares the complexities / hurdles he faced i…

1
Episode 77: Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream 36:48

8M ago36:48

36:48

In this episode, we are going back to 1993. The Seattle grunge scene was in full swing. Most bands of that era were releasing their 2nd and 3rd albums. But in this mix, was a quartet from Chicago, Illinois who fit in somewhat with the early 90s grunge scene, although they were based out of a different city. A city, mind you, that has birthed SEVERA…

1
#175 - Charlie Marsh on Ruff, uv and designing fast + ergonomic Python tooling 50:21

8M ago50:21

50:21

Who isn’t using Ruff for its blazing speed? Who hasn’t yet tried uv to make project management seamless and fast? What goes into building these tools, managing their increasing popularity + community of adopters? Hear from the creator himself, Charlie Marsh, as he shares insights on designing fast, ergonomic Python tooling that elevates the develop…

1
#174 - Mastering Productivity: How Tanner Martin Takes Control of His Time 38:09

9M ago38:09

38:09

Welcome back to the Pybites Podcast! This week, Julian talks with Tanner Martin, a Python developer and valued graduate and community member of our Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) program. In this episode, Tanner shares insights on productivity, mindset, and personal growth. He reflects on his journey to transform his productivity approach, reduce …

1
#173 - Pybites Platform 2.0 is here! 29:35

9M ago29:35

29:35

Welcome back to the Pybites podcast! Today we have some really exciting news: we’ve just launched our brand-new coding platform! Check it out here. After nearly 7 years and almost 50K sign-ups on v1 (codechalleng.es), the design started to show its age. That’s why we did a complete overhaul to create our new 2.0 platform. It's faster, cleaner, more…

1
Episode 76: Ivan "Funkboy" Bodley Returns 1:19:17

9M ago1:19:17

1:19:17

For this episode, #76, I am pleased to welcome back, Ivan "Funkboy" Bodley to the podcast. Ivan was a guest back on Episode #20 where we talked a lot about his book, “Am I Famous Yet? Memoir of a Working-Class Rock Star”. If you want to hear a deeper dive into the book – go back to Episode #20 and check it out. In this episode Ivan and I talk about…

1
#172 - From Punch Cards to Git: The Legendary Journey of Jeff Haemer 49:49

9M ago49:49

49:49

"The sooner you make your first five thousand mistakes, the sooner you will be able to correct them." - The Natural Way to Draw - Kimon Nicoliades Jeff Haemer’s career spans over five decades, and in this episode, he openly talks about his continuous passion for learning and solving interesting problems. We talk about his experience teaching comput…

1
#171 - Hypermodern Python with Claudio Jolowicz 38:37

10M ago38:37

38:37

Welcome back everybody! This week we have another exciting podcast episode, this time with Claudio Jolowicz, well known for his "Hypermodern Python" article series which he recently turned into a book. We dive into what Hypermodern Python means, uv's current quick rise, Nox, 80/20 tooling for (beginner) Python devs, Rust, mindset, and last but not …

1
Episode 75: Ratboys - The Window 49:47

10M ago49:47

49:47

The world is so huge you’re constantly stepping on new bands every week! When I heard the band name, Ratboys, I immediately thought it was an underground 70s punk band out of either New York or London that I’d never heard of. But with a touch of a smart phone generated icon, the track, Black Earth, WI, played through the car stereo, and that was al…

1
#170 - Advancing Python Packaging: A Deep Dive with the Pixi Team 1:04:53

10M ago1:04:53

1:04:53

In this episode, we reconnect with the Pixi team after our last conversation in November 2023 to dive back into the world of Python packaging, with a special focus on the latest advancements in Pixi. Joining us are Tim and Ruben, both of whom bring their unique expertise in robotics and game development. Ruben shares his experience contributing to …

1
#169 - Bridging Python and Rust: An Interview with PyO3 Maintainer David Hewitt 42:03

11M ago42:03

42:03

In this episode Bob chats with David Hewitt, passionate Python and Rust programmer, core maintainer of PyO3, and part of the Pydantic team. PyO3 lets you write a native Python module in Rust, or to embed Python in a Rust binary. David shares his journey of getting involved and how this tool set helps Python programmers integrate with Rust more easi…

1
#168 - Machine Learning and Purely Python Coding with Joao Pedro Chaib 40:11

11M ago40:11

40:11

A brief description for the time being for episode 168: In this episode Julian interviews Joao Pedro Chaib (JP), a Software Engineer based in Sydney, Australia. JP achieved what so many people dream of every day: transitioning from another industry into the Tech Industry, all while moving countries! Listen to JP's story where he shares the journey,…

1
#167 - Code Reading Club with Blaise Pabon 25:01

11M ago25:01

25:01

In this episode Blaise Pabon shares his experience joining a Code Reading Club and how it helped him improve as a developer. He hosted one in PDM last week and it was a cool experience, a great exercise to better read unfamiliar code and to learn from each other in a group setting. Enjoy this insightful conversation with Blaise ... Resources: Code …

1
Episode 74: Miles Davis - Kind of Blue 23:48

12M ago23:48

23:48

Kind of Blue was released on August 17th 1959. I wrote a review of this album back in 2020. For this episode, we will give you a deeper dive into the album along with adding some atmosphere and musical clips. Some of you may notice ALBUMREVIEW.NET is collection of reviews from different genres. In addition to the collection we have presented, we al…

1
#166 - Don't Fear Asking for Help as a Developer 28:50

12M ago28:50

28:50

In our new podcast episode we explore the importance of asking for help and pushing through the fear in order to do so. We delve into how sharing your expertise can create valuable reciprocal relationships and emphasize the benefits of asking questions, especially for junior developers. We share personal anecdotes, highlighting how overcoming fear …

1
Episode 73: Angela Petrilli - LA Based Guitar Virtuoso/Singer/Songwriter 1:23:52

12M ago1:23:52

1:23:52

For this episode, I welcome a very special guest to the podcast. Los Angeles based guitar virtuoso, Angela Petrilli. I met Angela while attending a Zepparella show. Zepparrella is a California based female Led Zeppelin tribute project. Angela was filling in at the particular gig for guitarist Gretchen Menn and I was lucky enough to watch her shred …

1
#165 - Kelly Schuster-Paredes: Integrating Python + AI in Education and Other Areas 35:15

1y ago35:15

35:15

Welcome back to our Pybites podcast. In this exciting episode we talk again with Kelly Schuster-Paredes about teaching Python, Pycon's education summit, how we are all learners and teachers, AI in education and for learning, how coding / programming skills evolve your brain far beyond their initial aim, exciting tech trends, mindset, wins and books…

1
#164 - Mastering Python Development: Overcoming Common Pitfalls and Building Success 21:38

1y ago21:38

21:38

Welcome back to the Pybites podcast! This week, we delve into six common pitfalls that Python developers face and offer insights on how to gain control and influence in your programming career. Tune in for tips on networking, continuous learning, developing good habits, showcasing your work, bouncing back from failed interviews, and the importance …

1
Episode 72: Pearl Jam - Dark Matter 45:52

1y ago45:52

45:52

Dark Matter is Pearl Jam’s twelfth studio album. Released on April 19, 2024, it was produced by Andrew Watt through Pearl Jam’s own private record label Monkeywrench Records with help from major label, Republic Records. Andrew Watt was a completely different producer than who Pearl Jam was used to. Watt helped the band focus on the music more, and …

1
#163 - Andrew Farr: Fascinating Python Data Projects and Improving 1% Every Day 28:50

1y ago28:50

28:50

Join our community here Become a better developer through our coaching --- Join host Bob as he sits down with Andrew Farr, a seasoned data engineer, to explore his career trajectories, triumphs, and challenges. In this episode, Andrew shares his recent transition from the US to the UK, landing a new data job, and the daily grind of becoming a data …

1
Episode 71: On the Edge of Leaving - Respite (Interview and Album Review) 1:12:02

1y ago1:12:02

1:12:02

Joining Greg on episode #71 are Hakon and Reuben from the Norwegian band, On the Edge of Leaving. Hakon and Reuben released their 2nd piece of music, an EP, titled, “Respite” in February 2024. After hearing the first song on the record, 1992, I was hooked and had to have them on the show. And what drew me to these guys were many things, one in part…