Develop Yourself

Brian Jenney
  • 4.3 (6)
  • 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. 9H AGO

    #273 - When You Don’t Know What to Build—Build This

    Breaking into software development isn’t about finishing another tutorial—it’s about building something that matters. In this episode, I’ll show you how to choose a side project that proves your skills, keeps you motivated, and actually impresses employers. You’ll learn: Why great data makes or breaks your appHow to apply the 80/20 rule—stick with tech you know, sprinkle in something newPicking a project you’re emotionally invested in (so you don’t abandon it)Tools that make you look sharp fast—React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and smarter database picksAdding AI functionality to make your project stand outBuilding a real MVP, deploying with Vercel or the cloud, and estimating time like a proAnd—don’t miss it—we’re giving away a full Parsity scholarship.  👉 Apply here 👈 Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

    18 min
  2. #272 - The State of the 2025 Tech Job Market: Is AI Helping or Hurting Us?

    4D AGO

    #272 - The State of the 2025 Tech Job Market: Is AI Helping or Hurting Us?

    The tech job market is sending seriously mixed signals in 2025. While social media overflows with doom and gloom about hiring freezes and impossible entry barriers, actual data tells a surprisingly different story.  Job openings are trending upward, with big tech companies like Meta, Google, and Apple actively expanding their engineering teams. What's really happening is a massive shift in what companies need from their developers. "AI engineering" positions have exploded, increasing 5-6x since 2023 alone. But here's the critical insight most are missing: these roles don't primarily require deep machine learning expertise or data science backgrounds. This represents a golden opportunity for software developers willing to expand their skills in the right direction. Let's explore. Here's the link to the original article: https://substack.com/inbox/post/172584839?utm_source=unread-posts-digest-email&inbox=true&utm_medium=email&triedRedirect=true Apply for Parsity's AI Developer Program: https://www.parsity.io/ai-developer Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

    14 min
  3. #271 - The Physics of Career Change: How Long It Actually Takes to Become a Software Developer

    SEP 8

    #271 - The Physics of Career Change: How Long It Actually Takes to Become a Software Developer

    Remember when coding bootcamps promised you could learn to code and land a job in just three months?  That golden era of easy entry into tech has fundamentally changed, yet the marketing hasn't caught up with reality. In this eye-opening conversation, ex-Google engineer Zubin and host Brian cut through the hype to deliver a reality check about what it actually takes to transition into software development in 2025. What separates those who succeed from those who don't?  It's rarely about raw talent or technical aptitude. Instead, it's about creating systems that allow for consistent practice despite life's inevitable challenges. "I've seen computer science grads fail and French fry cooks succeed" Let's dig into why. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

    37 min
  4. #270 - Coding in the Age of AI: What No One’s Telling You

    SEP 4

    #270 - Coding in the Age of AI: What No One’s Telling You

    AI is changing coding faster than anyone expected.  Two years ago, autocomplete felt wild—now people with zero dev experience are shipping apps over a weekend.  The question isn’t “is AI replacing developers?” It’s “how do you actually use it without wrecking your codebase?”  In this episode, I’ll break down when to use AI (and when not to), why Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is the real game-changer, and how you can stay valuable as a new developer in a world full of hype. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

    20 min

  5. SEP 1

    #269 - I'm Burnt Out! The 3 Worst Parts About Being a Software Developer (and why I still love it)

    It’s Labor Day weekend and, honestly? I’m burned out. Maybe this isn’t the best business move, but I’d rather keep it real with you than fake the whole “everything is great in tech” narrative. I’ve been plenty vocal about why AI isn’t about to replace us all tomorrow, much to the dismay of to all the AI bros out there. But here’s the other side: being a developer is nothing like those “day in the life” TikToks where someone shows up to the office around 10AM, gets a fancy coffee, fixes a UI bug and then gets a 400K salary with stock options. So here it is—my three worst parts of being a software developer. ... and why I still enjoy what I do. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

    13 min

  6. AUG 28

    #268 - An AI Agent Horror Story: What Happens When AI Runs a Business?

    What happens when you give an AI agent full control over a small business? I mean, what could go wrong? Things started off rough and then got down right creepy near the end of this experiment. You can read the original article here: https://www.anthropic.com/research/project-vend-1 Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

    12 min
  7. #267 - Step-by-Step: Build a Real AI Project with Next.js & RAG

    AUG 25

    #267 - Step-by-Step: Build a Real AI Project with Next.js & RAG

    What does it actually mean to be an “AI Engineer”?  Honestly—not much. The title is overloaded and vague.  But what is meaningful right now is knowing how to build real projects with AI that go beyond toy chatbots and portfolio fluff. In this episode, I walk you through the exact project I’ve been building at two different AI startups: a Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) app. You’ll learn how to: Scrape and store content in a vector databaseUse embeddings to turn your text into something a model can understandStream responses back to your frontend with Next.js + TypeScriptReduce hallucinations and add structured, reliable outputsUnderstand why this is the skillset employers are actually hiring for right now👉 Check out the repo and code from this episode here: https://www.parsity.io/ai-with-rag If you’ve been wondering how to actually learn AI engineering skills that matter in 2025, this is the place to start. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

    25 min
  8. #266 - Startups 101: Insider Secrets for Aspiring Developers

    AUG 21

    #266 - Startups 101: Insider Secrets for Aspiring Developers

    In this episode of Develop Yourself, I sit down with Gabe Rucker, CEO of Founding Titans, to discuss everything from entrepreneurship and building startups to the practical side of networking and getting money from thin air. We also dive into how Parsity students gained valuable, hands-on experience through an internship with Founding Titans, working alongside a real AI startup team. Topics we cover include: Gabe’s journey from coder to founder—and what he’s learned along the wayHow to raise capital, attract the right investors, and avoid common startup pitfallsValidating your ideas and building a minimum viable product (MVP) that people actually wantWhy networking is critical—for both startups and job seekersThe role of AI in software development today—and its limitationsBehind-the-scenes: how our internship with Parsity students worked in a live startup environmentConnect with Gabe Rucker on LinkedIn: → Gabriel Rucker (CEO, Founding Titans)   Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

    41 min
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4.3
out of 5
6 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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    280
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Develop Yourself
  • Show Website
    Develop Yourself

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