The Forward Slash Podcast

Is AI making developers more productive... or just making us feel that way? Adam Barrett joins James this week to cut through the vibe coding hype. They dig into why requirements and context still matter, how React became the LLM default, and what zero-dependency coding could mean for security. From junior talent to quantum risks, this episode challenges how we think about building software in the...

Can AI really replace junior software engineers? Jason Pedone, CTO at Aspida and former SVP at Truist, joins James Carman to tackle one of the most debated questions in tech today. They explore why cutting early-career talent puts your entire pipeline at risk, how AI can boost productivity without killing creativity, and what happens when companies chase short-term savings over long-term engineeri...

What does it take to modernize a 165-year-old bank? This week, James talks with Jude Schramm, EVP & CIO at Fifth Third Bank , about leading digital transformation in a highly regulated industry. From scaling agile across 200+ teams to rethinking core systems and adopting AI, Jude shares how he’s helping one of America’s largest banks move faster while keeping customer trust at the center.

What happens when anyone can build software...but no one checks the code? Bruno Borges, Principal PM Manager at Microsoft, joins The Forward Slash to unpack how AI is reshaping software development—from prototyping to architecture—and the hidden risks of skipping the fundamentals. We also dive into Microsoft’s surprising evolution into a Java powerhouse, the rise of prompt-driven development, and...

What happens when crypto collides with real-world regulation? In this episode, we unpack how stablecoins work, why they matter, and how they’re poised to disrupt everything from cross-border payments to brand loyalty programs. We also explore what developers and businesses should be thinking about as the lines between traditional finance and DeFi continue to blur.

Everyone’s talking about AI, but are you overlooking the real driver of developer productivity? On this episode of The Forward Slash, Dillon Courts, Callibrity’s Director of Platform Engineering, shares what he’s learned about building high-performing platforms, the real limits of the “everyone does everything” DevOps model, and why self-service tools are changing the game for software teams. He a...

Most people think of budgeting as restrictive, tedious, or something they’ll “get around to.” But what if it didn’t have to be that way? In this episode, we explore how technology, AI, and a little human coaching are reshaping not only how we manage money—but how modern platforms are blending automation with personal connection to drive real, lasting change. From building better financial habits t...

How did coding go from something niche and isolating to one of the most valuable skills in the modern workforce? In this episode of Forward Slash , we look at how the role of the developer has evolved—from outsider status to essential strategist. Drawing on decades of experience, Mark Stahl shares how the culture around coding has changed, and why understanding systems, context, and collaboration...

How do you build user-centered digital products in a world obsessed with trends and AI hype? In this episode, UX researcher and digital psychologist Dr. Nick Fine joins James to share expert insights on human-centered design, behavioral science, and the real meaning of user experience. Learn how to apply UX research methods that drive product success, avoid common pitfalls in agile teams, and use...

Wrangling APIs? Dreaming about AI agents that actually get your specs? This episode delivers. We chat with Dave Shanley (aka quobix)—a musician-turned-engineer with a sci-fi streak—about cutting through the noise of OpenAPI standards, building tools developers actually want to use, and how to stay grounded while navigating the fast-moving world of agentic AI.

Curious how AI can turn messy, unstructured data into something actually useful? This episode, we dive into a real-world project that explores just that. Senior developer Azriel Alvarado shares how building a song recommendation tool based on lyrics led to deeper insights into embeddings, vector search, and working with natural language data. Whether you're in search, content tagging, knowledge ma...

What separates teams that build features from those that solve problems? Ryan Donnelly, product leader and proud Callibrity alum, shares how his engineering roots shaped his approach to driving impact at scale. He unpacks the mindset behind modernizing in-house payments, building with empathy, and leading through storytelling. If you're navigating tech, product, or leadership—this one's for you.

Can you build a working AI chatbot without any prior AI knowledge? Rachel did—and here’s how. In this episode, senior software developer, Rachel Clifton joins James to share how she tackled her very first AI project—building a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) chatbot from scratch. Rachel breaks down the beginner-friendly tools that made it possible, including Spring AI, Apache Tika, and PGVect...

What do toddlers learning to walk and robots learning to cook soup have in common? In this episode, data scientist Steven Nord joins James to explore the fundamentals of reinforcement learning (RL) —a key concept in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) —and its real-world applications in predictive maintenance, automation, robotics, and AI-powered systems . They explain the difference...

Can your software handle failure—or write its own test code? In this episode, we dive into temporal workflows, agentic AI, and no-code automation tools like N8N to explore how developers can build resilient, scalable applications faster. Learn how to navigate unreliable APIs, implement AI-powered code generation, and prototype with no-code platforms to supercharge your software development process...

Is QA slowing you down? We unpack why traditional, siloed QA creates friction—and how a player-coach approach to test automation can embed quality across your team. Learn how shifting the mindset from “quality as a function” to “quality as a culture” leads to faster feedback, stronger collaboration, and better software. Perfect for CTOs, tech leads, and teams ready to level up their delivery.

In this episode of The Forward Slash , James sits down with Guy Royse , Developer Advocate at Redis , Guy shares insights into what it means to be a developer advocate—helping engineers solve problems, teaching new technologies, and building communities. He and James dive into the world of conferences, discussing the value of in-person events, networking, and staying ahead of industry trends.

Are soft skills the secret weapon of high-performing technologists? In this episode, we sit down with Aaron Tyler , Senior Staff Consultant at Callibrity and a Full-Stack & iOS Polyglot Programmer, to explore how mastering soft skills can sharpen technical execution, improve collaboration, and elevate engineering teams to new levels of efficiency.

In this episode of The Forward Slash Podcast , James and Aaron sit down with special guest Tracy Beeson, Director of Transformation at Health Alliance Plan. They explore shifting Agile methodologies, new frameworks, and evolving industry demands, and ask the big question: Is Agile dead, or has it simply transformed?

This week, James and Aaron explore modern security challenges and opportunities with Tyler Welton, a 15+ year InfoSec expert. They discuss open-source vulnerabilities, confusion attacks in third-party tools, and how security products can help developers stay productive while staying protected.

In the latest The Forward Slash podcast episode, we’re diving deep into this game-changing discipline with Joel Vasallo , Senior Director of Platform Engineering at TAG - The Aspen Group. From redefining workflows to tackling unique challenges in healthcare and beyond, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone passionate about building better systems and better developer experiences.

On this episode, we dig into the (maybe not so) unique challenges and opportunities of building cutting-edge technology at scale for Microsoft. Nat Pollock, Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft, joins Aaron and James this week, to chat about navigating the complexities of software development at a global tech giant.

This week on The Forward Slash , James and Aaron dive into more than just a reflection of 2024. They uncover the stories, challenges, and breakthroughs that defined the IT world—and share what it’s really been like creating and hosting this podcast along the way. But they don’t stop there! Get ready for bold predictions and key trends to watch as we step into 2025. Whether you're in tech or just c...

In this episode, we sit down with Rich Schramm, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of vizabli, to explore the essence of entrepreneurship. Rich dives into the complexities of working in highly-regulated industries like medical technology, highlighting how to balance creativity with compliance. Discover the drive it takes to embrace your inner entrepreneur!

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Berardelli, leader of Callibrity's Foundations practice, to explore the art of uncovering the why behind every client need. With over 20 years of experience developing enterprise-level software and building strong cross-functional relationships, Steve shares his expertise on how understanding the core problem sets teams up for success—and why creating a thou...