When Shit Hits the Fan

Johan van Amersfoort and Jeffrey Kusters

Are you working in IT and ever had the pleasure of breaking something? We mean, breaking something significantly and knowing shit has really hit the fan? That's what this podcast is all about. In a bi-weekly cadence, our guests share their story with the goal to learn a lesson from it. And you can too, by subscribing to the show so you can be the first to hear them!

  1. 26/06/2025

    French Name, American Accent, German Address - Eric Lajoie

    In this very human and often hilarious episode of When Shit Hits the Fan, Johan and Jeffrey welcome Eric Lajoie, AI specialist at SUSE, to unpack a career shaped by curiosity, failure, and a global perspective. From name mispronunciations to technical missteps, this conversation spans tech, identity, and the unexpected stuff that breaks — including intros, connections, and sometimes, a water pipe. Eric reflects on his journey from the US to Germany, how his multicultural background shapes the way he works, and why making mistakes in public can be one of the best ways to grow. 🔗 Links & Mentions: SUSE AI Eric Lajoie on LinkedIn Red Hat OpenShift AI NVIDIA AI Enterprise 📣 Subscribe & Follow: New episodes every other Thursday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms Follow the show on LinkedIn Feedback or guest ideas? Email us at podcast@itq.eu

    36 min

  2. 10/06/2025

    Wallpapering, Vibecoding & Saying the Wrong Thing to the Right Person - Sander Harrewijnen

    In this episode of When Shit Hits the Fan, we sit down with long-time ITQ technologist Sander Harrewijnen to talk about building better software, making bad assumptions, and breaking things that needed fixing anyway. We cover everything from Sander’s accidental roast of a client’s legacy app (in front of the people funding it 😬) to his thoughts on vibecoding (letting AI write your code), and his approach to solving tech and people problems in complex environments. Along the way, we discover his unusual hidden talent (spoiler: he’s your guy for photo wallpaper), his Maker side with lightsabers and Mandalorian helmets, and how his developer career evolved from .NET to cloud-native advocacy Links & Mentions: Sander’s blog: https://harre.dev Find Sander on LinkedIn Podcast: Cloud Native ChroniclesFisker Ocean vs. Reality: MKBHD video 📣 Follow & Subscribe: Got feedback? Email us at podcast@itq.eu Don’t miss future episodes — subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app Follow us on LinkedIn: ITQ

    36 min

  3. 26/05/2025

    Aaron Black

    In this episode of the When Shit Hits the Fan podcast, Johan interviews Aaron Black, the director of product for Omnissa Workspace ONE Security. Aaron shares his career journey, insights on product management, and the importance of security in technology. He recounts memorable moments from his career, including challenges faced and lessons learned, particularly in the context of IT and software development. The conversation also touches on personal anecdotes and life lessons, providing a well-rounded view of Aaron's experiences in the tech industry. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Aaron Black and the Podcast 04:09 Rapid Fire Questions and Insights 08:03 Career Highlights and Experiences 14:03 The Importance of Security in Technology 15:09 When Shit Hits the Fan Moments 21:29 Life Lessons and Personal Anecdotes

    25 min

  4. 12/05/2025

    Spencer Pitts

    In this episode of 'When Shit Hits the Fan', Spencer Pitts, Partner CTO at Omnisa, shares his career journey, insights on technology, and personal life lessons. He discusses his experiences in the IT industry, the importance of preparation, and the value of being open to opportunities. He shares why he uses visuals of bridges in his presentations, how to break PXE boot sequences, and his love for a particular game. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Spencer Pitts 10:29 Career Highlights and Journey 22:43 When Shit Hits the Fan Moment 27:01 Life Lessons and Reflections

    35 min

  5. 01/05/2025

    Frank Denneman

    In this episode of 'When Shit Hits the Fan', Johan and Jeffrey welcome Frank Denneman, a distinguished engineer for AI at VMware/Broadcom. The conversation covers Frank's experiences, interests, and career journey, including his insights on technology, movies, and the importance of effective communication in engineering. The episode features rapid-fire questions, discussions about favorite films, and a deep dive into Frank's professional background. The conversation explores his journey from building Microsoft Exchange across multiple countries to his experiences with virtualization, working at VMware, and the challenges of startup life. It highlights his time at PernixData and the lessons learned from mistakes made throughout his career, including the importance of sharing knowledge and overcoming fears in public speaking. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 02:40 Frank's Background and Interests 06:41 Binaries and Quickfire Questions 11:01 Frank's Career Journey and Early Experiences 13:15 Building Microsoft Exchange Across Borders 16:45 The Virtualization Journey Begins 17:35 Transitioning to VMware and the Startup Experience 20:00 The Challenges of Startup Life 23:25 Innovations at Pernix Data 25:59 Lessons Learned from Mistakes 30:04 First Time on Stage: Overcoming Fear 31:27 The Thrill of Live Performance 34:17 Key Takeaways for First-Time Speakers 39:43 Lessons from Experience and Listening 41:54 The Importance of Preparation 42:53 Learning from Presentation Skills and Shark Tank Links: Frank Simrig account on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roadtoimmersion/

    47 min

  6. 14/04/2025

    Duncan Epping

    In this episode of 'When Shit Hits the Fan', Johan and Jeffrey welcome Duncan Epping, Chief Technologist at Broadcom/VMware (and former co-host of this podcast). The conversation explores Duncan's journey from a consultant to a Chief Technologist, his passion for running, and his involvement in the tech community. They discuss Duncan's career highlights, including the development of EvoRail/VxRail and the organization of the VMworld Fun Run, showcasing his dedication to both technology and fitness. In this episode, Duncan shares his experiences in organizing community events, the challenges faced during his career in technology, and the valuable life lessons learned along the way. He emphasizes the importance of communication, the unpredictability of outcomes in both work and personal endeavors, and the significance of enjoying the journey rather than solely focusing on the end goals. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 02:19 Duncan's Background and Interests 09:10 Duncan's Career Journey at VMware/Broadcom 13:18 Rapid Fire Questions with Duncan 15:37 Duncan's Passion for Running and Blogging 19:14 Career Highlights and Achievements 24:45 Organizing the VMworld Fun Run 29:11 When Shit Hits the Fan: Personal Experiences 41:46 Life Lessons and the Importance of Communication

    52 min

  7. 31/03/2025

    DaShaun Carter

    In this episode of 'When Shit Hits the Fan', hosts Johan and Jeffrey welcome Dashaun Carter, a Spring Advocate at VMware. The conversation covers Dashaun's journey from professional cheerleading to tech, the importance of upgrading software, and insights into the Spring framework. They also discuss Raspberry Pi projects, lessons learned from mistakes, and the significance of automation in software development. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Setup 02:57 Guest Introduction: Deshawn Carter 06:08 Rapid Fire Questions 08:59 Deshawn's Career Journey 12:06 The Importance of Upgrading Software 15:08 Understanding Spring Framework 18:08 Raspberry Pi Projects and Efficiency 21:09 Lessons from Mistakes and Automation 24:00 Final Thoughts and Advice

    31 min

  8. 17/03/2025

    Coté

    In this episode of 'When Shit Hits the Fan', hosts Johan and Jeffrey interview Coté, a developer advocate at Broadcom. The conversation explores Coté's background, his insights on DevOps and platform engineering, the challenges of changing corporate culture, and the importance of building relationships in a remote work environment. Coté shares his career journey, highlighting key transitions and the lessons learned along the way. In this episode, Coté shares insights on his unique name, lessons learned from mistakes in tech, the importance of work-life balance, and how to maintain objectivity as an analyst. He reflects on his career transitions and the challenges of pushing oneself to grow while managing personal well-being. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Coté and the Podcast 05:04 Rapid Fire Questions and Insights 11:00 Coté's Career Journey 17:00 Navigating Corporate Transitions 20:10 Building Relationships in Remote Work 20:51 The Origin of Coté's Name 22:46 Learning from Mistakes in Tech 27:55 Work-Life Balance and Personal Reflections 30:22 Lessons from Career Transitions 35:38 Maintaining Objectivity as an Analyst

    43 min
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Bande-annonce

À propos

Are you working in IT and ever had the pleasure of breaking something? We mean, breaking something significantly and knowing shit has really hit the fan? That's what this podcast is all about. In a bi-weekly cadence, our guests share their story with the goal to learn a lesson from it. And you can too, by subscribing to the show so you can be the first to hear them!

Informations

  • Création
    Johan van Amersfoort and Jeffrey Kusters
  • Années d’activité
    2021 - 2025
  • Épisodes
    62
  • Classification
    Contenu explicite
  • Copyright
    © Johan van Amersfoort and Jeffrey Kusters
  • Site web de l’émission
    When Shit Hits the Fan