Develop Yourself

Brian Jenney
  • 4.5 (8)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

To change careers and land your first job as a Software Engineer, you need more than just great software development skills - you need to develop yourself. Welcome to the podcast that helps you develop your skills, your habits, your network and more, all in hopes of becoming a thriving Software Engineer.

  1. #300 - Build a Product, Not a Portfolio

    1D AGO

    #300 - Build a Product, Not a Portfolio

    The hiring bar for junior developers has changed, and pretending it hasn’t will only slow your career.  Let's break down a simple strategy to beat the “no experience” trap:  Ship a small product you intend to sell, get one or two real users, and use those lessons to tell stronger stories in interviews. Instead of another tutorial portfolio, you’ll learn to show autonomy, reliability, and ownership—the exact traits teams are optimizing for in tighter markets. By the end, you’ll know how to replace vague “potential” with proof of autonomy: shipped features, hard-earned trade-offs, and stories that map directly to the realities of modern teams. Resources: Side project planner: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uJ5Bom0WmS410K5B2m5TkbZ7d1G9BdTaX4nKprYschI/edit Side project video: https://youtu.be/2TWioJCIaxE Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

    12 min
  2. #299 - Yes, You Must Learn to Code and Then Never Write Code Ever Again

    JAN 19

    #299 - Yes, You Must Learn to Code and Then Never Write Code Ever Again

    AI is writing more code than ever, layoffs are everywhere, and it feels like software careers might be disappearing. In this episode, we explore why that narrative is misleading—and what’s actually changing in tech. We break down why learning to code still matters, how to use AI without becoming dependent on it, and which core skills will help you stay relevant as the industry evolves. If you’re trying to make sense of the noise and figure out how to move forward in software development, this episode is here to help you navigate what’s next. If you want to join our next cohort to learn AI through project based learning - sign up here: https://parsity.io/ai-dev Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

    16 min
  3. #298 - Data Structures and Algorithms 101 (3 patterns you must know for your next interview)

    JAN 12

    #298 - Data Structures and Algorithms 101 (3 patterns you must know for your next interview)

    Grab your free interview prep crash course here: https://parsity.io/interview-prep Whiteboard interviews aren’t broken — most candidates just prepare for them the wrong way. This episode shows why copying Big Tech interview prep is a trap and walks through three algorithm patterns that consistently appear in everyday software interviews. It’s a no-nonsense roadmap for learning just enough DSA to pass interviews without wasting years on theory. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

    11 min
  4. #297 - From Crime to Coding: How to Build Bullet Proof Habits in 2026

    JAN 5

    #297 - From Crime to Coding: How to Build Bullet Proof Habits in 2026

    "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit." Habits beat motivation; small, daily actions reshape identity and make success inevitable without relying on willpower. The problem is that most people create goals with no system in place. They rely on raw, fragile willpower and motivation and then wonder why they fail. Let's explore how to make habits that actually stick to give you the best possible chance of success in the new year. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

    11 min
  5. #296 - The 5 Worst Tech Trends of 2025 (And How to Win in 2026)

    12/29/2025

    #296 - The 5 Worst Tech Trends of 2025 (And How to Win in 2026)

    Grab this project to learn the basics of RAG and working with agents https://www.parsity.io/ai-with-rag 2025 was one of the most confusing years to be a software developer. We were told AI would replace us. Then we were told it would make us 10× more productive. Neither actually happened — but the hype affected careers, hiring, education, and mental health in real ways. In this episode, I break down the 5 worst tech trends of 2025, based on what I saw firsthand as a working engineer and bootcamp owner — layoffs that never stopped, juniors getting squeezed out, AI being used as a crutch, the collapse of coding bootcamps, and the biggest lie in tech: the AI productivity myth. Then we flip the script. I also cover the best trends that quietly emerged and how I’m personally planning to take advantage of them going into 2026 — from AI agents and coding tools that actually help, to why generalist engineers and system-level thinking are winning again. If you’re: A junior developer trying to break inA senior wondering how AI really affects your careerOr just tired of LinkedIn hype and doom headlinesNo magic prompts. No fake roadmaps. Just reality — and a practical way forward. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

    23 min
  6. #295 - Career Leverage For Non-Traditional Developers

    12/22/2025

    #295 - Career Leverage For Non-Traditional Developers

    I want to offer you some politically incorrect career advice that the gurus on LinkedIn won't share with you. From job hopping to the #1 skill you need as a developer: I cover the things that helped me go from struggling bootcamp grad to engineering manager. Resources mentioned in the pod: My article outlining my salary jumps through interviewing: https://brianjenney.medium.com/i-used-to-suck-at-coding-interviews-then-i-quadrupled-my-salary-9d5260389a09 Here's your templates for writing on LinkedIn: https://www.parsity.io/learning-in-public Merry Christmas!!! Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

    16 min
  7. 5 Takeaways from Working at an AI Startup

    12/15/2025

    5 Takeaways from Working at an AI Startup

    We’re in a strange moment right now. The AI bubble is showing signs of popping and the tech industry is waking up from a long night of partying. We were told to “do more with less” and “just use AI” for the past 12 months. After spending a year building production systems this way, I can tell you there’s a growing gap between what people think AI can do and what it actually does. To say I’m annoyed with the media and talking heads online is an understatement. It is really starting to boil my potato. Here are my takeaways after grinding on a 5 person team to build a product using AI. 🚨If you're interested in learning how to REALLY work with AI as a software developer - apply for our new program for working developers who want to learn AI: parsity.io/AIDev Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

    16 min
  8. Inside the Email Infrastructure of High-Growth Companies

    12/11/2025

    Inside the Email Infrastructure of High-Growth Companies

    In this episode of the Develop Yourself Podcast, I talk with three email and growth experts about something most developers overlook: email as a serious  money maker. I’m joined by: Mike, founder of Seventh Sense, an AI-powered email timing platformBoris, Senior Digital Marketing Manager at Educative, one of the largest developer learning platformsDoug, CEO of Optimize 3.0, a HubSpot Diamond Partner agencyWe dig into: How AI is reshaping email marketingWhy email is still the most reliable channel you can ownThe biggest email marketing mistakes that founders and developers makeWhat it actually takes to build a product that sells—not just one that worksAnd real advice for developers who want to turn skills into a business 🎙 Guest LinkedIn Profiles Mike Donnelly — Founder, Seventh Sense https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedonnelly1/ Boris Robles-Slyusar — Senior Digital Marketing Manager, Educative https://www.linkedin.com/in/borisslyusar/ Doug Kirk — CEO, Optimize 3.0 https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglastkirk/ 🏢 Company Pages Seventh Sense (AI-powered email timing platform) https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-seventh-sense/ https://www.seventhsense.ai/ Educative (developer learning platform) https://www.linkedin.com/company/educative-inc/ https://www.educative.io/ Optimize 3.0 (HubSpot Diamond Partner agency) https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimize-3-0/ https://optimize3-0.com/ Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

    44 min
See All (309)

4.5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

To change careers and land your first job as a Software Engineer, you need more than just great software development skills - you need to develop yourself. Welcome to the podcast that helps you develop your skills, your habits, your network and more, all in hopes of becoming a thriving Software Engineer.

Information

  • Creator
    Brian Jenney
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    309
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Develop Yourself
  • Show Website
    Develop Yourself

You Might Also Like