Coredump Sessions

Memfault
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Coredump Sessions is a podcast for embedded engineers and product teams building connected devices. Hosted by the team at Memfault, each episode features real-world stories and technical deep dives with experts across the embedded systems space. From Bluetooth pioneers and OTA infrastructure veterans to the engineers who built Pebble, we explore the tools, techniques, and tradeoffs that power reliable, scalable devices. If you're building or debugging hardware, this is your go-to for embedded insights.

  1. 12/11/2025

    #019: END-OF-YEAR CELEBRATION: Moments You Loved, Stories You Missed, and 2026 Predictions You Need

    Summary In today’s Coredump Session, François and Chris wrap up the year with a special milestone celebration for the 20th episode of the series. They take listeners behind the mic to reflect on how Coredump began, the moments that defined 2025, and the lessons learned along the way. Expect highlights from the year’s most talked-about discussions, bold predictions for what’s ahead in 2026, and the biggest live Q&A yet—where nothing is off the table. Key Takeaways: Why Coredump Sessions started and how the show has evolved over 20 episodesThe biggest engineering lessons guests shared throughout 2025The most surprising device failures and field behaviors teams faced this yearHow firmware teams adapted to fast-changing toolchains and new requirementsThe rise of AI-assisted debugging, testing, and development in embedded workHow security mandates tightened and reshaped device developmentThe recurring theme that real-world conditions rarely match lab assumptionsWhat François and Chris learned from producing the series behind the scenesWhat the hosts expect to define embedded systems development in 2026The expanded live Q&A format and how the community is shaping future episodes Chapters: 00:00 Teasers 01:30 Intro/ Welcome 03:35 The Genesis of Core Dump 06:54 Favorite Moments and Lessons Learned 08:45 Clip Reaction: Nick Sinas's OTA Nightmare in the Snow 12:19 Clip Reaction: Lack of Security at Pebble 16:45 Clip Reaction: Dan Mangum on AI & Engineering 21:50 Clip Reaction: Vatsal at Ultrahuman Talks Always-On Devices 25:29 Clip Reaction: Chad from Gabb Talks Security 30:12 Looking Ahead: Predictions for 2026 35:59 The Rise of AI and Edge Computing 42:24 Evolving Skills for Firmware Engineers 47:01 Security in Embedded Systems 49:01 The Future of Testing in Embedded Development 53:15 Conclusions & Thank Yous ⁠Join the Interrupt Slack⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Watch this episode on YouTube ⁠ Follow Memfault ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠Other ways to listen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Music⁠ ⁠GoodPods⁠ ⁠Castbox⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit our website

    55 min

  2. 11/26/2025

    The Hidden Complexity of Sleep Tech: Power, Comfort, and 8 Hours of Reliability

    In today’s Coredump Session, François and Chris from Memfault sit down with Charles Taylor, co-founder of Ozlo Sleep, to explore the journey from Bose’s original Sleepbuds to the rebirth of a product designed to help people truly rest. The conversation traces how Ozlo revived this beloved idea, balancing power management, all-night comfort, and reliability in one of the most demanding consumer tech categories. Along the way, Charles shares lessons from bringing a hardware product back to life, testing technology people use in their sleep, and building a community that believes better rest starts with better engineering. Key Takeaways: Charlie's journey from engineering to entrepreneurship was accidental but rewarding.The emotional connection users have with physical products is significant.Sleep tech addresses the problem of noise disruption during sleep.Kickstarter was used not just for funding but to build a community.Firmware updates are crucial for improving user experience and product functionality.Designing sleep earbuds involves unique challenges related to comfort and size.Battery life and efficiency are critical in hardware development.Sensing technology in sleep tech can provide valuable health data.Testing and quality assurance are essential in product development.Navigating FDA regulations is complex but necessary for medical-related devices.Chapters: 00:00 Intro and Teasers02:02 Meet Charlie Taylor and the Ozlo Sleep Story06:13 Why Sleepbuds Exist and Why Noise Matters07:07 Rebuilding Bose’s Discontinued Sleepbuds09:15 The Hardest Parts of Hardware: Timelines and Vendors10:39 Kickstarter as Validation and Community Building15:57 Designing for Sleep: Comfort, Power, and Miniaturization23:16 The Ear as the USB to the Body: Sensing and Health Insights26:18 Testing Sleep Tech in the Real World33:34 Firmware as the Real Product and Ozlo’s Update Strategy45:38 Moving Toward Medical: FDA and Software Therapies55:17 Customer Feedback at Scale and Prioritizing What Matters Join the Interrupt Slack ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Watch this episode on YouTube [ADD Playlist YT Link from here)⁠⁠ Follow Memfault ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Other ways to listen: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts iHeartRadio⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Amazon Music GoodPods Castbox ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Visit our website

    58 min

  3. 10/29/2025

    #017: Building and Scaling a Startup in the Ultra-Competitive Health Wearables Market

    In today's Coredump Session, François Baldassari and Chris Coleman sit down with Ultrahuman co-founder Vatsal Singhal to unpack what it takes to build and scale a hardware startup in the fiercely competitive health wearable market. From transitioning from software to hardware to building responsibly with AI and machine learning, Vatsal shares what it means to blend deep engineering rigor with a mission to improve human performance. This conversation explores the challenges, surprises, and future of health-tech innovation at the edge. Key Takeaways How Ultrahuman transitioned from a software-first mindset to mastering complex hardware development. Lessons learned moving from large-scale software systems to building precision-focused health wearables. Why building hardware for health requires a fundamentally different level of accountability and rigor. The role of machine learning at the edge and how it enables better, faster insights while managing battery and compute tradeoffs. How responsible use of AI in health applications shapes product design and user trust. The importance of rapid iteration cycles and adopting software methodologies in hardware innovation. Insights into how Ultrahuman’s internal teams use AI not just in engineering, but across all business functions. A look at what’s next for health-tech — and where innovation is heading in wearables and bio-sensing. Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Teasers03:43 From Software to Hardware: The Leap of Faith07:49 The Harsh Realities of Hardware10:40 Iterating Fast Without Breaking People15:17 Redefining A/B Testing in Hardware21:40 Why Ultrahuman Built Its Own Factory26:56 Scaling Production Across Continents29:48 Managing Complexity: 20 Hardware Revisions in a Year35:08 Firmware Velocity & Observability with Memfault43:42 Health Tech Meets Regulation47:55 Shared Codebases & Fast Iteration Across Products50:39 Building the Machines That Build the Rings54:34 Responsible AI & The Future of Health Wearables56:35 Closing Reflections & Key Takeaways Join the Interrupt Slack ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Watch this episode on YouTube Follow Memfault ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Other ways to listen: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts iHeartRadio⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Amazon Music GoodPods Castbox ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Visit our website

    58 min

  4. 09/17/2025

    #016: From Startup to Global Brand: Scaling Engineering at reMarkable

    In today’s Coredump Session, we sit down with Nico Comier, CTO of reMarkable, to explore the journey from early-stage startup to global brand. Nico shares insights on scaling engineering teams, balancing technical credibility with leadership responsibilities, and what it really takes to bring a hardware product to market. From the pressures of product launches to the importance of customer connection, this conversation dives into the realities of building impactful technology. Key Takeaways: Nico Comier emphasizes the importance of customer impact in engineering roles.Remarkable's journey from startup to global brand involved scaling engineering teams.Cross-functional collaboration is key to successful product launches.Understanding customer needs is crucial for product development.Remarkable focuses on creating tools that help people think better.The Paper Pro Move was developed in response to user feedback.Remarkable values a hacker culture and allows device jailbreaking.Telemetry and customer feedback are vital for product improvement.Remarkable's leadership believes in maintaining technical credibility.Cross-functional teams enhance empathy and collaboration within organizations.Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Remarkable and Nico's Journey 04:21 The Path to CTO: Insights and Experiences 07:21 Technical Leadership and Staying Relevant 10:03 Understanding Customer Needs in Tech Leadership 13:00 The Launch of Paper Pro Move: A Major Achievement 15:17 Preparing for Product Launch: Challenges and Strategies 18:07 Balancing Agile and Waterfall in Product Development 21:04 Product Decision-Making: Insights from the Paper Pro Move 23:39 Navigating Challenges in Hardware Development 26:30 Final Thoughts on Product Launch and Future Directions 29:30 The Importance of Hypercare Post-Launch 35:44 Scaling a Startup: Lessons Learned 39:41 Building Cross-Functional Teams 47:13 The Role of Firmware in Product Development 50:48 Integrating Accessibility and Customer Feedback 57:02 Leadership and Team Dynamics 01:00:00 Outro Join the Interrupt Slack ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Watch this episode on YouTube Follow Memfault ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ Other ways to listen: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts iHeartRadio⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Amazon Music GoodPods Castbox ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Visit our website

    1 hr

  5. 08/20/2025

    COREDUMP #015: Developing kid-safe tech at Gabb: what it takes and why it’s so important

    In today’s Coredump Session, we explore the rise of kids safe tech with leaders from the GABB team, creators of connected devices designed specifically for children. From designing products that prioritize child safety to integrating AI in ways that support families, this conversation unpacks the complexities of building secure, intuitive technology for the next generation. The team also shares real-world lessons on hardware partnerships, customer trust, and what it takes to innovate responsibly in the IoT space. Key Takeaways: Kids safe tech is an emerging category centered on digital safety for children.IoT connectivity is essential for building trust between parents and kids.Gabb’s mission is rooted in protecting families through intentional technology.Strong partnerships are critical to scaling hardware, firmware, and software development.AI enhances product safety by filtering content and flagging risks in real time.Security and data privacy are foundational to Gabb’s product design philosophy.Product development requires aligning launch timing, market needs, and platform strategy.Managing multiple product lines demands balance between innovation and sustainment.Kids often outpace parents in tech fluency—celebrating young users can inspire product direction.Efficient QA processes are necessary to uphold product quality and customer trust.Customer feedback and word of mouth are vital inputs for roadmap decisions.Data minimization is a core principle when designing for young users.Cross-functional collaboration drives more effective and family-first product development.Chapters: 00:00 Episode Teasers & Intro 04:46 Understanding Kids Safe Tech 10:25 The Role of Partnerships in Product Development 14:59 Navigating AI in Product Design 20:20 Balancing Needs of Kids and Parents 28:14 Ensuring Security in Kids Tech 32:31 Celebrating Advocacy and Security Solutions 33:45 Navigating Privacy in Child Analytics 37:30 Product Development Cycle and Timelines 41:31 Balancing Current and Future Product Development 45:53 Sustaining Products Amid New Launches 48:37 Customer-Centric Approach in Product Maintenance 52:42 Firmware Versioning Challenges and Strategies Join the Interrupt Slack ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Watch this episode on YouTube ⁠ Follow Memfault ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ Other ways to listen: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts iHeartRadio⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Amazon Music GoodPods Castbox ⁠

    58 min

  6. 08/05/2025

    #014: Why Your IoT Project Still Hasn’t Taken Off — And How to Fix It

    In today’s Coredump Session, the team takes a hard look at why some IoT projects stall before they ever hit scale. From organizational missteps to product-market fit challenges, they explore the hidden forces that derail even technically sound products. You’ll hear candid insights on why being “connected” isn’t enough—and what it really takes to succeed in IoT today. Key Takeaways The biggest blockers for IoT teams aren’t always technical—they’re organizational, strategic, and systemic.Shipping a connected device doesn't guarantee product-market fit, especially if it's missing the right workflows or visibility.Engineers often build what's technically possible instead of what's valuable for the business.Collecting data from devices is table stakes—but what matters is how you use that data to drive action.Many teams lack a clear owner for post-deployment success, leading to blind spots in field performance.“Observability” should go beyond crash logs and include signals that help prioritize engineering work.Product-market fit isn’t static—it has to be reevaluated and maintained across the device lifecycle.Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to IoT Challenges 01:54 Afzal’s Journey in IoT & Early Expectations 04:11 The 500K SIM Card Mirage 08:10 Why IoT Projects Stall: Internal Resistance & Misaligned Incentives 14:25 Rethinking the “IoT” Label: Lessons from Pebble 17:28 When Good Tech Still Fails: The Organizational Blindspot 20:43 Field Reality Check: Why Real-World Feedback is Critical 26:00 Who Owns It? Accountability After Launch 29:07 Designing for Fault Tolerance in Connected Devices 32:52 Fragmentation in IoT: Meeting Diverse Customer Needs 37:27 Niche Focus as a Winning Strategy 39:57 What IoT Can Learn from AI’s Go-to-Market Playbook 44:42 Drivers for Success in the IoT Space 47:14 The Future of IoT: Regulation, Trust & E-Waste 50:32 Final Reflections on Long-Term Ownership & Customer Impact Join the Interrupt Slack ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Watch this episode on YouTube Follow Memfault ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Other ways to listen: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts iHeartRadio⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Amazon Music GoodPods Castbox ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Visit our website

    57 min

  7. 07/23/2025

    #013: Prepping Your AI Model for the Wild: Building Edge AI Models That Work in the Real World

    In today's Coredump Session, we dive into the fascinating world of building Edge AI models that truly work in real-world environments. Joined by David Tischler, Developer Program Manager, and Alessandro Grande, Head of Product at Edge Impulse (A Qualcomm Company), we unpack what it takes to deploy AI on tiny devices, explore practical applications from wearables to industrial use cases, and discuss why customization, hardware choices, and continuous monitoring are critical for success. Tune in to explore how Edge AI is transforming device development and enabling smarter solutions. Key Takeaways: Edge AI empowers devices to process data locally, significantly reducing latency, bandwidth usage, and improving privacy.The best use cases for Edge AI today often involve video and audio analytics, wearables, and industrial sensor applications.Customization is the key value of AI, making it easy to fine-tune models for specific tasks or customer needs without extensive traditional coding.Effective Edge AI requires thoughtful pre-processing (DSP), not just AI models—this combination significantly improves model performance.Hardware selection is crucial; developers must balance model complexity with device constraints, such as available RAM and compute power.Many AI co-processors marketed for embedded systems today are essentially DSP units rebranded as AI accelerators, and usability matters more than raw performance.Observability and OTA (over-the-air) updates are critical components in Edge AI deployment, enabling continuous monitoring, data-driven refinements, and quick responses to issues in the field.Production readiness in Edge AI involves not only initial deployment but ongoing data collection, model retraining, and continuous improvement cycles. Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Teasers: Edge AI's Real-World Promise01:57 Meet Our Guests: David Tischler & Alessandro Grande from Edge Impulse05:19 How Edge AI Took Off: From Hyped to Essential09:21 Beyond Voice Commands: Emerging AI Use Cases12:02 Defining the Edge: Wearables to Factories19:09 AI's Hidden Superpower: Customization and Fine-Tuning26:15 Why AI Belongs at the Edge: Latency, Privacy, and Power28:38 Building the Software Stack: Edge AI for Embedded Engineers34:17 Choosing Your Hardware: Constraints and AI Accelerators45:42 Observability and OTA Updates: Essential for Edge AI52:28 Audience Q&A: Fine-Tuning, TinyML, and the Future Join the Interrupt Slack ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Watch this episode on YouTube Follow Memfault ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ Other ways to listen: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts iHeartRadio⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Amazon Music GoodPods Castbox ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Visit our website

    58 min

  8. 07/08/2025

    #012: Plug-and-Play Cellular Connectivity: Nearly Here or Never Happening?

    In today's Coredump Session, we delve into the evolving landscape of cellular connectivity, particularly focusing on eSIM technology and its implications for IoT devices. The discussion features insights from industry experts on the challenges and opportunities presented by cellular connectivity, the cost considerations for device makers, and the technological advancements that are shaping the future of connectivity. Key themes include the vision behind Kigen, the role of SIM technology, emerging business models, and best practices for managing device connectivity and profiles. Key Takeaways Cellular connectivity is essential for modern IoT devices.Kigen aims to secure trillions of connected devices.Cost reduction in cellular modules opens new opportunities.Device makers must consider the total cost of ownership.Emerging business models include rental and subscription services.iSIM technology is gaining traction in the market.Device management and profile updates are critical for success.Security by design is a priority for device manufacturers.Interoperability between eSIM products is improving. Chapters 00:00 Intro & Teasers 03:54 The Vision Behind Kigen 06:36 Challenges and Opportunities in Connectivity 09:09 Cost Considerations in Cellular Technology 12:01 Innovative Business Models for Device Makers 14:46 Understanding SIM Technology 17:22 The Future of iSIM and SoftSIM20:19 Global Considerations for Cellular Products 30:25 Navigating IoT Network Choices 33:41 Choosing the Right Cellular Technology 36:56 Understanding eSIM and Network Management 42:05 Optimizing Device Connectivity and Provisioning 47:43 Key Considerations for New Device Makers 54:42 Outro Join the Interrupt Slack ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Watch this episode on YouTube Follow Memfault ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Other ways to listen: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts iHeartRadio⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Amazon Music GoodPods Castbox ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Visit our website

    55 min
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About

Coredump Sessions is a podcast for embedded engineers and product teams building connected devices. Hosted by the team at Memfault, each episode features real-world stories and technical deep dives with experts across the embedded systems space. From Bluetooth pioneers and OTA infrastructure veterans to the engineers who built Pebble, we explore the tools, techniques, and tradeoffs that power reliable, scalable devices. If you're building or debugging hardware, this is your go-to for embedded insights.

Information

  • Creator
    Memfault
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Memfault
  • Show Website
    Coredump Sessions

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