//podcastplus.net/feed/podcast~beac8e2acbecebee2b64dba940e56f657fcd43ff087cf05787c131b62f29ce37 The Mycelium Network podcast. A podcast all about early-stage web developers and the mentors and teachers who help them along the way. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 06:24:01 +0000 https://media.transistor.fm/5ecb0274/e5671fb5.mp3 In this episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, host Schalk Neethling speaks with Kilian Valkhof in a conversation about Kilian's journey in web development. Kilian shares his initial aspirations in game development, leading to a career in web technologies. The discussion veers towards the significance of innovation in technology, emphasizing the need to accept failures as part of the growth process. A significant part of the conversation is dedicated to the evolution of web technologies and the critical role of choosing the right tools for specific development needs. Both Kilian and Schalk reflect on their experiences in open source contributions, underlying the impact of these contributions on the broader web development community. Kilian highlights the importance of balancing innovation with practical problem-solving. He shares insights on how technology like AI, VR, and blockchain have their place but should be employed meaningfully. The episode is a rich blend of personal experiences and professi... Thu, 16 Nov 2023 13:19:36 +0000 https://media.transistor.fm/5ecb0274/e5671fb5.mp3 https://media.transistor.fm/da120f96/7ff2a27c.mp3 In this engaging episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, host Schalk Neethling welcomes Elena Lape, the visionary founder of Holopin. Elena shares her remarkable journey through the tech world, from building developer communities and supporting students at GitHub to her passion for hackathons. She delves into the value of open-source contributions and the importance of universal skills beyond coding. Elena's insightful advice on how to validate business ideas and the significance of competition offers a treasure trove of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs. Listeners will be inspired by her passion for community building, resilience, and the exciting future of Holopin's innovative products. It's a must-listen episode for tech enthusiasts and budding entrepreneurs. Links Elena on LinkedIn Holopin Schalk Neethling on LinkedIn Continue the discussion on GitHub Join the community on Slack Mechanical Ink Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:03:29 +0000 https://media.transistor.fm/da120f96/7ff2a27c.mp3 https://media.transistor.fm/7a1c8371/a69f4bc6.mp3 In this episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, host Schalk Neethling is joined by Grecia Castaldi and Molly Devine from Women Who Code. These two dynamic women share their inspiring journeys in the tech world and non-profits, emphasizing the significance of diversity and empowerment in the industry. The discussion touches on vital topics like advocating for oneself, the potential of AI as a tool rather than a replacement, and the incredible mission of Women Who Code to foster a more inclusive tech community. With insightful quotes and profound takeaways, this episode sheds light on the opportunities and challenges within the tech sphere while encouraging listeners to embrace their unique voices and aspirations. Don't miss this empowering dialogue that celebrates diversity and innovation in the world of technology. Links Women Who Code Grecia Castaldi Molly Devine Schalk Neethling Continue the conversation on GitHub . Join the community on Slack . Mechanical Ink Wed, 25 Oct 2023 22:34:05 +0000 https://media.transistor.fm/7a1c8371/a69f4bc6.mp3 https://media.transistor.fm/8c16a0c5/6d1d0775.mp3 In this episode of the Mycelium Network Podcast, Chad Stewart, a software engineer from Kingston, Jamaica, shares his journey in the tech industry. Chad discusses his work in front-end engineering and his exploration of back-end engineering. He also talks about his role in TechIsHiring, an organization that helps people find job opportunities in the tech industry. Chad's passion for exploring interesting problems and ideas in the industry motivates him. He shares his interest in Rust and how it can help us write cleaner code, especially in contrast to the sometimes chaotic JavaScript ecosystem. Tune in to hear Chad's insights and experiences as a software engineer. Join The Community Join us on LinkedIn Join us on Matrix Links Chad Stewart - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadrstewart/ TechIsHiring - https://www.techishiring.com/ The Rust language - https://www.rust-lang.org/ Mechanical keyboards - https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/ Mushroom Coffee - https://www.healthline.c... Wed, 30 Aug 2023 16:58:06 +0000 https://media.transistor.fm/8c16a0c5/6d1d0775.mp3 https://media.transistor.fm/2fc1a33a/32eaf54f.mp3 This week, the guest on the podcast is Vicky (VM) Brasseur. She has over 30 years of experience in the world of open source and is currently helping large companies with their open source strategies. She has written the book, “Forge your future with Open Source” and is currently writing her second book. During the episode, we touch on topics such as ensuring we create a welcoming, safe, and inclusive space within the open source ecosystem. We touch on topics explored in her first book and how it relates to those new to the tech world and open source. We also touch on some challenges, such as the influx of open-source projects, lack of knowledge (especially around licensing), and monocultures. There is a wealth of incredible information shared in this episode that is applicable to everyone, no matter where you are in your career. Join the conversation on Discord . Links VM (Vicky) Brasseur on the Web VM (Vicky) Brasseur on Mastodon VM (Vicky) Brasseur on GitHub VM (Vicky) Br... Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:05:58 +0000 https://media.transistor.fm/2fc1a33a/32eaf54f.mp3 https://media.transistor.fm/8aed9e6b/14b76ee8.mp3 In this episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, Schalk Neethling interviews Alex Buaiscia, a full-stack developer at Moravio. Alex talks about his journey from humanistic studies and journalism to desktop support and becoming a full-stack developer. Alex emphasizes the importance of persistence, getting feedback after an interview, and soft skills for career growth. He also discusses his approach to writing tests using React testing library, the importance of project planning, and the significance of work-life balance and taking time to be still. Alex also shares his experience dealing with the mental health impact of shift work and how he found opportunities by sharing his work in the open. Finally, Alex offers advice for early-stage developers and shares what he learned about meditation and dealing with challenges. Continue the conversation on Discord . Links Alex Buaiscia on the Web Alex Buaiscia on LinkedIn Humanistic studies React Nodejs React testing library free... Wed, 05 Apr 2023 16:00:28 +0000 https://media.transistor.fm/8aed9e6b/14b76ee8.mp3 https://media.transistor.fm/de4a7ec0/1bc940c1.mp3 In this episode of The Mycelium Network podcast, host Schalk Neethling sits down with Leo Cheng, a former editor in the film and TV industry who has been teaching himself to code and is ready to make programming his career. Schalk and Leo touch on various topics, such as learning through making, the importance of onboarding and mentoring new developers at a company and exploring different aspects of programming through good first issues. They also touch on harder topics, such as the trend of roasting other people’s work on social media, imposter syndrome, and the challenges of learning and making in the open. Note: While I said in the episode that syntactic sugar aims to make code more human-readable, this does not always happen in practice. Also, what is readable and understandable to one person, is not necessarily the case for someone else. Continue the conversation on Discord . Links Leo Cheng on the Web Leo Cheng on GitHub Leo Cheng on LinkedIn Asking for feedback on ... Wed, 29 Mar 2023 16:00:43 +0000 https://media.transistor.fm/de4a7ec0/1bc940c1.mp3 https://media.transistor.fm/1d5f7b59/80b6fb26.mp3 In this episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, host Schalk Neethling speaks with Bri Leever, a brand community strategist and owner of Ember consulting. Bri emphasizes the importance of building a community-led approach to problem-solving and the importance of patience and nurturing the seeds of your community instead of trying to be the one with all of the answers. She stresses the value of being transparent, balancing empathy with authority, and providing value to the community over time. Bri shares some of the challenges she faced while building her business and highlights the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, taking calculated risks, and continuing to learn and grow. Listeners will come away from this episode with valuable insights into building a thriving community and designing a fulfilling life. The Mycelium Network podcast is made with Riverside . Transcripts of the episode are available on GitHub . Continue the conversation on Discord . Links Bri Leever on... Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:00:48 +0000 https://media.transistor.fm/1d5f7b59/80b6fb26.mp3 https://media.transistor.fm/b4da60a3/4f898a79.mp3 This week I am doing some cross-promotion of my other podcast, the Mechanical Ink podcast. If you enjoy this episode, you can subscribe to the show here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mechanical-ink -- In this episode of the Mechanical Ink podcast, Schalk is joined by Abby and Naytri from GitHub. In this enlightening and far-reaching conversation, we cover some of the new initiatives launched by GitHub, such as GitHub Accelerator and the GitHub Fund. We also cover enhancements to GitHub Sponsors, what GitHub learned from the OS Grants project in GitHub, and how companies and open-source can aid in creating opportunities for creators in developing countries. We also touch on the social aspects of GitHub, how GitHub has managed to keep the platform largely healthy and welcoming, and how we can do even better. We also discuss the importance of community and giving tools to community managers working on the platform. Abby also shares information about the maintainer's program at GitHub and oth... Wed, 15 Mar 2023 16:44:34 +0000 https://media.transistor.fm/b4da60a3/4f898a79.mp3 https://media.transistor.fm/f73d7618/8b73a77f.mp3 Ankita Kulkarni, an educator and founder joined the Mycelium Network podcast to discuss her passion for helping people and making a difference. She shared insights on leadership, work-life balance, psychological safety, and the importance of a beginner's mindset. The episode delved into what makes a good leader, the joy of learning, and tips for the first 90 days on the job. Finally, Ankita discussed her favorite pour-over coffee and recommended a few resources for front-end developers and engineering managers. Continue the conversation The Mycelium Network podcast is made with  Riverside  (Opens in new window). Transcripts of the episode are  available on GitHub . Join the conversation on  Discord . Links Ankita on the web Ankita on Youtube Humanizing pull requests Engineering leader’s playbook - Includes a discount for the first 100 listener that follows this link. (Thanks, Ankita) Complete Next.js course Frontend Snacks Vercel MDN Web Docs Bec... Wed, 08 Mar 2023 16:00:39 +0000 https://media.transistor.fm/f73d7618/8b73a77f.mp3