ShipTalk - SRE, DevOps, Platform Engineering, Software Delivery

By Harness

 ShipTalk is the podcast series on the ins, outs, ups, and downs of software delivery. This series dives into the vast ocean Software Delivery, bringing aboard industry tech leaders, seasoned engineers, and insightful customers to navigate through the currents of the ever-evolving software landscape. Each session explores the real-world challenges and victories encountered by today’s tech innovators. Whether you’re an Engineering Manager, Software Engineer, or an enthusiast in Software delivery is your interest, you’ll gain invaluable insights, and equip yourself with the knowledge to sail through the complex waters of software delivery.Our seasoned guests are here to share their stories, shining a light on the do's, don’ts, and the “I wish I knew” of the tech world.If you would like to be a guest on ShipTalk, send an e-mail to podcast@shiptalk.io. Be sure to check out our sponsors website - Harness.io

  1. AI for Security vs Security for AI: From IBM Master Inventor to Microsoft AI Architect

    9 SEPT

    AI for Security vs Security for AI: From IBM Master Inventor to Microsoft AI Architect

    Dewan Ahmed sits down with Fatih Bulut, AI Architect at Microsoft and former IBM Research Master Inventor, to separate hype from reality in AI for software delivery and cybersecurity.  Fatih clarifies AI for security vs security for AI, walks through detection engineering as real software engineering, and explains proactive defense across an attack’s phases. He digs into the hard part of shipping: execution, product alignment, and tight feedback loops with customers. On code generation, he calls out failure modes like plausible but wrong outputs and hard coded shortcuts, and raises open questions about responsibility and auditability when AI writes code.  The pair map AI across the SDLC, from pipeline generation and troubleshooting to vulnerability triage, then explore transformer limits with huge telemetry and why verifiable tasks such as code and math are near term wins. Fatih remains bullish on AI where outputs are testable and where context usage actually works at scale.  Connect with Fatih on LinkedIn.

    48 min

  2. 28 JUL

    Debugging Developer Productivity in an AI-native World with Aravind Putrevu (CodeRabbit)

    In this episode of ShipTalk, Chinmay Gaikwad sits down with Aravind Putrevu, Head of Developer Relations at CodeRabbit, and dives into the evolving landscape of AI in software development. Aravind shares insights on the influence of AI tools across the software development lifecycle, from coding and code reviews to automation and security. Aravind highlights the pivotal role of context engineering, the continued importance of human oversight in AI-driven workflows, and how teams can harness diverse AI tools for productivity. The discussion also explores Kubernetes' impact on AI workloads, best practices for developer enablement, and the latest trends in developer communities and learning resources.

    53 min
  3. DORA, DevEx, and the Role of AI with Nathen Harvey (Google Cloud)

    9 JUL

    DORA, DevEx, and the Role of AI with Nathen Harvey (Google Cloud)

    In this kickoff episode of ShipTalk Season 4, Dewan sits down with Nathen Harvey, DORA Lead and Developer Advocate at Google Cloud, to explore how DevOps metrics and AI are transforming software delivery. From his early days in DevOps to leading the DORA initiative, Nathen shares lessons from open-source communities, the role of culture, and how AI is reshaping documentation, incident response, and even coding itself. They also dig into the 2025 DORA Survey, discuss when organizations should start tracking metrics, and what the future holds for engineering leaders. 🎙️ Your voice matters. Take the 2025 DORA survey (closes on July 18, 2025). 🎟️ Visit Harness Booth at DevOpsDays Dallas 2025 — and use the promo code SHIPTALK to take 20% off your ticket.

    40 min
  4. From Windows Kernel to AI-Native Platforms: Scaling Engineering Teams and Systems with Puneet Saraswat

    5 JUN

    From Windows Kernel to AI-Native Platforms: Scaling Engineering Teams and Systems with Puneet Saraswat

    In this special season 3 finale of ShipTalk, host Dewan Ahmed sits down with Puneet Saraswat, VP of Engineering at Harness, for an inspiring conversation about engineering leadership, system design, and the evolution of software delivery. What You'll Learn: Career Journey: Follow Puneet's path from discovering programming in a hot computer lab in North India to building Windows 7 kernel components at Microsoft, then transitioning to Azure's distributed systems, and finally joining Harness as one of their first 15 engineers. Production Systems at Scale: Get insights into building reliable systems that serve millions of users, including lessons learned from Windows kernel development, Azure's global infrastructure challenges, and the evolution from monolithic to distributed architectures. AI-Native Software Delivery: Explore how AI is transforming the software development lifecycle beyond just code generation - from automated pipeline debugging to intelligent remediation and best practice recommendations. Engineering Leadership: Discover strategies for scaling engineering teams, balancing velocity with security and compliance, and transitioning from individual contributor to management roles. Beyond the Code: Learn about Puneet's passion for indoor climbing 🧗‍♂️  and how lessons from physical challenges apply to navigating corporate growth and continuous learning. Key Takeaways: Why fundamental computer science concepts matter more than ever in the age of rapid technological changeHow to build "cellular architectures" that prevent regional failures from cascading globallyThe importance of hiring generalists with strong analytical skills and growth mindsetsStrategies for managing the balance between AI-accelerated development and production reliabilityPractical advice for engineers considering the transition to managementPerfect for software engineers, engineering managers, DevOps professionals, and anyone interested in the intersection of AI and software delivery platforms. Guest Bio: Puneet Saraswat is VP of Engineering at Harness, where he leads platform engineering and SRE teams. With over 15 years of experience, he previously spent nearly a decade at Microsoft working on Windows kernel development and Azure infrastructure. He holds a degree from IIT Kanpur and is passionate about building scalable systems and developing engineering talent.

    41 min
  5. Virtualizing Kubernetes: Efficiency and Developer Experience with Lukas Gentele from Loft Labs

    16 APR

    Virtualizing Kubernetes: Efficiency and Developer Experience with Lukas Gentele from Loft Labs

    In this episode of the ShipTalk podcast, co-host Eric Minick talks with Lukas Gentele, co-founder and CEO of LoftLabs, about revolutionizing Kubernetes infrastructure through virtualization. Lukas shares his entrepreneurial journey starting from age 16 and explains how his company pivoted to create vcluster, a technology that virtualizes Kubernetes control planes similar to how VMs virtualize physical machines. They discuss the inefficiencies of running many small Kubernetes clusters versus optimizing resources with virtual clusters, the impact on developer workflows, and innovative approaches to CI/CD testing environments. Whether you're looking to optimize cloud costs or improve your development experience with Kubernetes, this episode offers practical insights into the future of container orchestration infrastructure.

    37 min
  6. ShipTalk S03E08 - From Motocross to Microservices (Kyle Galbraith, CEO of depot.dev)

    14 MAR

    ShipTalk S03E08 - From Motocross to Microservices (Kyle Galbraith, CEO of depot.dev)

    In this episode, Dewan sits down (virtually) with Kyle Galbraith, co-founder of Depot, to explore his unique journey from motocross videographer to startup founder. Kyle shares how his early experiences in film and programming shaped his approach to solving technical problems, and why he co-founded Depot to tackle the challenge of slow build processes. Kyle dives into the real impact of inefficient builds on developer productivity, team morale, and business innovation. He explains his leadership philosophy of "radical transparency and brutal honesty," and offers valuable insights on balancing rapid delivery with stability, the importance of documentation, and his vision for the future of developer tools in an AI-driven world. Whether you're a developer frustrated with slow builds, a technical leader looking to improve team performance, or an aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation offers practical wisdom on building solutions that truly enhance developer experience. --- Follow Kyle on X: https://x.com/kylegalbraith Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylegalbraith459/ Kyle's personal blog: https://blog.kylegalbraith.com/ Learn about Depot: https://depot.dev/blog

    40 min
  7. DevOps Decoded: Navigating the ServiceNow Ecosystem with Ron Gidron

    4 MAR

    DevOps Decoded: Navigating the ServiceNow Ecosystem with Ron Gidron

    In this edition of ShipTalk podcast, Ron Gidron, CEO of X Type, discusses the unique challenges of DevOps in platform-based environments like ServiceNow, emphasizing the complexities of managing multiple code bases and environments. He highlights the importance of visibility, governance, and automation in modern software development, sharing insights from his decades of experience in the tech industry. Gidron is particularly optimistic about the potential of AI to transform DevOps, predicting more intelligent, predictive approaches to software lifecycle management that can reduce manual testing and improve development efficiency.

    47 min
  8. Write It Down: Brendan O'Leary from Prefect.io

    11 FEB

    Write It Down: Brendan O'Leary from Prefect.io

    Brendan O’Leary shares his journey from helping GitLab scale to IPO to his current role at Prefect.io, focusing on Pythonic orchestration. He explains why Prefect chose Python and how orchestration tools like Prefect complement CI/CD platforms like GitLab CI/CD and Harness in DevOps workflows. We discuss the evolution of Developer Relations, its ROI, and tips for building sustainable open-source communities. Brendan also offers advice on balancing a tech career with family life. In closing, Brendan shares his key lesson learned throughout his career: "write things down", emphasizing its importance for clarity and progress in tech. For further insights, check out the articles Brendan suggested: Measuring Developer RelationsWhat I Learned at GitLab That I Don’t Want to Forget

    38 min
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About

 ShipTalk is the podcast series on the ins, outs, ups, and downs of software delivery. This series dives into the vast ocean Software Delivery, bringing aboard industry tech leaders, seasoned engineers, and insightful customers to navigate through the currents of the ever-evolving software landscape. Each session explores the real-world challenges and victories encountered by today’s tech innovators. Whether you’re an Engineering Manager, Software Engineer, or an enthusiast in Software delivery is your interest, you’ll gain invaluable insights, and equip yourself with the knowledge to sail through the complex waters of software delivery.Our seasoned guests are here to share their stories, shining a light on the do's, don’ts, and the “I wish I knew” of the tech world.If you would like to be a guest on ShipTalk, send an e-mail to podcast@shiptalk.io. Be sure to check out our sponsors website - Harness.io

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