Quality Talks Podcast

Summary In this episode of the Quality Talks podcast, host Stu Day engages with special guest Mohammad Arif, the head of QA at FX Digital, to explore the unique challenges and innovations in the realm of connected TV testing. They discuss the evolution of FX Digital, the importance of client feedback, and the structure of QA and QE teams. Delving into the complexities of device fragmentation, the...

Summary In this episode of the Quality Talks podcast, hosts Stu and Chris discuss the concept of superpowers in the context of their professional lives. They explore various superpowers suggested by their community, including vulnerability, empathy, and the ability to communicate clearly. The conversation delves into how these superpowers can enhance leadership, teamwork, and personal growth. They...

Summary In this episode of Quality Talks, Stu Day discusses the art of storytelling and its significance in conveying quality within teams and leadership. He emphasises the need for relatable communication and shares various techniques, including analogies, visuals, and interactive storytelling methods like using Lego. The conversation highlights the importance of empathy and creativity in making...

Summary In this episode, Stu Day discusses the challenges of performance management within organisations, particularly focusing on the concept of Bonus Driven Development (BDD), and the negative impact of individual performance metrics on team collaboration and quality culture. Stu advocates for aligning performance goals with a quality vision and fostering a collaborative environment where everyo...

Summary In this keynote talk from the National Software Testing Conference 2025, Stu Day explores the critical theme of self-care in leadership, emphasising the importance of emotional awareness, the distinction between self-care and self-indulgence, and the need for leaders to model healthy behaviours.  It discusses creating supportive environments, implementing micro-self-care behaviours, and th...

Summary In this episode of the Quality Talks podcast, hosts Stu Day and Eamon Droko reflect on their experiences at the National Software Testing Conference. They discuss various talks and workshops, highlighting key insights on software testing, diversity in the industry, and the evolving role of testers in the face of new technologies like AI. The conversation emphasizes the importance of adapta...

Summary In this episode, Quality Talks & The QA Hype Show come together for a special collaboration. Host Stu Day & Gary Shannon, welcome Rosie Sherry, CEO and Founder of Ministry of Testing to talk about all things TestBash. Together they discuss the upcoming TestBash conference in October sharing personal stories about how Test Bash has impacted their careers and lives in different ways....

Summary In this episode of Quality Talks, Stu Day discusses the essential tips for new leaders, particularly in the quality space. He emphasizes the importance of shifting one's mindset when transitioning into leadership, building strong relationships based on trust, collaborating on strategy development, investing in people, and prioritising self-care. These insights are drawn from his extensive...

In this episode of Quality Talks, host Stu Day engages with Ayesha Saeed, a senior accessibility specialist and test lead, to discuss the importance of accessibility in software development. They explore Ayesha's journey into accessibility, the challenges of promoting it within teams, and the significance of empathy in understanding user experiences. The conversation also covers practical strategi...

Summary In this episode of Quality Talks, host Stu Day interviews Nesha Mistry, a senior recruiter with over six years of experience. They discuss the challenges recruiters face, including managing high volumes of applications and delivering feedback to candidates. Nesha shares insights on how candidates can stand out in their applications, the importance of personality in interviews, and the need...

Summary In this live episode celebrating the first anniversary of the Quality Talks podcast, hosts Stu and Chris reflect on their journey over the past year, share memorable moments, and engage with their live audience. They welcome special guest Vernon Richards, discuss future plans for live events, and highlight favourite episodes and guests, further reflections on their journey of building a po...

Summary In this episode of Quality Talks Bitesize, host Stu Day welcomes Dalbir Sehmbi, a seasoned professional in software testing, who shares his journey through job hunting and the strategies he employed to secure a new role. Dalbir discusses the importance of tracking job applications, building relationships with recruiters, and the lessons learned from various interview experiences. He emphas...

Summary In this episode of Quality Talks Bitesize, hosts Stu and Chris share their top tips for interviewers, focusing on enhancing the candidate experience. They discuss the importance of preparation, humanising the interview process, ensuring diversity in interview panels, effective time management, and being present in both body and mind. Their conversation emphasises creating a welcoming atmos...

Summary In this inaugural Bite Size episode of the Quality Talks podcast, host Stu Day and guest Eamon Droko discuss the nuances of job interviews, focusing on what constitutes good and bad experiences, from a candidates perspective Eamon shares his insights from his journey in quality assurance, emphasising the importance of job fit, the challenges of poorly placed technical tasks in interviews,...

In this episode of the Quality Talks podcast, hosts Chris Henderson and Stu Day explore the dynamics of interviews, emphasising the importance of a two-way relationship between candidates and employers. They discuss community engagement, share personal experiences, and highlight the significance of creating a positive interview environment. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own experien...

Summary In this episode of Quality Talks, hosts Stu Day and Chris Henderson welcome Christine Pinto, co-founder of Epic Test Quest. Christine shares her journey from a tech career to politics and back, emphasising the importance of quality in software testing. The conversation explores the challenges faced by testers, the role of AI in improving testing processes, and the significance of community...

In this heartfelt episode of Quality Talks, hosts Stu Day and Chris Henderson delve into the critical topics of wellbeing, self-care, and mental health within leadership. They share personal experiences and insights on the importance of leading by example, being vulnerable, and creating supportive environments for open communication. The conversation emphasises the need for self-awareness and prac...

Summary In this episode of Quality Talks, hosts Chris Henderson and Stu Day celebrate their 10th episode while diving into the ongoing debate between manual and automation testing. They explore the psychological aspects of decision-making, the importance of context in labelling roles, and the need for a balanced approach to quality assurance. The conversation highlights the detrimental effects of...

In this episode of the Quality Talks podcast, hosts Stu Day and Chris Henderson spend time reflecting on the past year and look forwarding to 2025. They explore their learnings, personal growth and future goals with the podcast and talk about the important part community engagement has played and will continue to play in its success. The one and only Santa joins the show for a festive AMA session...

In this episode of Quality Talks, host Stu Day, welcomes special guests, Vernon Richards and Nicola Lindgren on the show to discuss their new book, 'The Software Tester's Journey.' They explore the motivations behind writing the book, the writing process, and the importance of career development in software testing. The conversation delves into the evolving expectations of software testers, the do...

In this episode, we explore the intricacies of performance engineering with industry experts Tomi Tiihonen and Hari Patel. The conversation delves into the evolution of performance engineering, the shift from performance testing to engineering, and the complexities introduced by modern software architectures and cloud technologies. The importance of monitoring, observability, and data analysis is...

In this episode of Quality Talks Podcast, host Stu Day along with special guest Jo Reeves, delve into the complexities of navigating change. They explore personal experiences with change, the emotional journey it entails, and the importance of acknowledging grief in various forms. Emphasising the importance of reflection, support, and celebrating new beginnings after endings Jo shares her insights...

In this episode of Quality Talks, host Stu Day welcomes guests Karen Todd, Rahul Parwal, and Ben Dowen to discuss their experiences at the Ministry of Testing - TestBash conference. They reflect on the unique community atmosphere, the importance of networking, and the challenges of choosing sessions amidst the fear of missing out. The conversation also delves into advice for aspiring speakers and...

In this episode - Testing, Testing, 2...1...3, Stu Day is joined by the first ever podcast guest to discuss their experiences in the software testing industry and how their perspectives on testing have evolved over time.  They delve into the importance of exploring and questioning in testing, as well as the need to gather and interpret information to make informed decisions. They also cover the im...

In this episode, Stu Day discusses the importance of testing and pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zones in both our personal and professional lives. He draws parallels between his experience in bodybuilding and the software testing industry, highlighting the need for continuous improvement, adaptation, and feedback. Stu encourages listeners to test themselves, try new things, and challenge...