145 episodes

If working on software teams feels complicated, frustrating, and filled with politics - that's just because your eyes are open. Unfortunately, you do need to make a living! So how do you keep up with the demands of your tech job and still have a life outside of work? Hi I'm Jayme Edwards, and I've had a 26 year career in the software industry filled with thrilling victories - and maddening drama. With so many problems in our industry, the more money I made the more ridiculous people's expectations were. I’m sharing the biggest mistakes I made in my career, and the insights I learned along the way. This podcast is the audio version of the Healthy Software Developer YouTube channel, where you can find new episodes every Monday. Podcast versions appear on Wednesday of the same week. Subscribe and join us! Let’s help each other grow a community of healthy software developers.

Healthy Software Developer Jayme Edwards

    • Technology
    • 4.8 • 21 Ratings

If working on software teams feels complicated, frustrating, and filled with politics - that's just because your eyes are open. Unfortunately, you do need to make a living! So how do you keep up with the demands of your tech job and still have a life outside of work? Hi I'm Jayme Edwards, and I've had a 26 year career in the software industry filled with thrilling victories - and maddening drama. With so many problems in our industry, the more money I made the more ridiculous people's expectations were. I’m sharing the biggest mistakes I made in my career, and the insights I learned along the way. This podcast is the audio version of the Healthy Software Developer YouTube channel, where you can find new episodes every Monday. Podcast versions appear on Wednesday of the same week. Subscribe and join us! Let’s help each other grow a community of healthy software developers.

    How Solopreneur Programmers Turn Content Into Cash

    How Solopreneur Programmers Turn Content Into Cash

    Making videos, podcasts, or blogs could be just what your career as a programmer needs. But it could also be a complete waste of time. Many programmers become influencers, but there are two very different reasons for doing so.
    In this episode, I share the difference between being a pure influencer, or posting online for content marketing. Content marketing is helping people solve some problem they have with your content to encourage them to consider doing business with you.
    If you're considering working for yourself by starting a software product company, becoming a consultant or freelancer, or selling courses on software development or engineering - becoming an influencer through content marketing is the key to making sales and actually having a business.
    Join my Patreon: 
    https://www.patreon.com/HealthySoftwareDeveloper 
    Download my free career guide: 
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/guide/
    Get access to TechRolepedia, a data hub about the top 25 roles in tech: 
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/techroles/
    Learn about career coaching:  
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/coaching/
    You can also watch this episode on YouTube. 
    Chapter markers / timelinks:
    (1:27) 1. The 2 Purposes of Online Content
    (1:31) 1.1 For Social Status and Influence
    (3:49) 1.2 Demonstrating Competence
    (6:09) 2. How Content Marketing Helps Your Career
    (6:14) 2.1 Getting a Better Job
    (7:38) 2.2 Sell Products and Services
    (10:03) 3. 5 Myths of Content Marketing
    (10:12) 3.1 Your Ideas Must Be Original
    (12:31) 3.2 You Have To Post Everywhere
    (13:40) 3.3 You Have To Post All The Time
    (17:04) 3.4 You Should Post a Variety of Topics
    (20:40) 3.5 You Must Post in All Mediums
    (23:51) 4. Building a Business Through Content
    (24:13) 4.1 Give Away Something Valuable
    (26:37) 4.2 Have a Contact Form
    (29:40) 4.3 Get Referrals Through Shares
    (32:53) Episode Groove
    Visit me at healthysoftwaredeveloper.com
    Find me on X as @jaymeedwards
    Find me on LinkedIn as jaymeedwards

    • 33 min
    How I Hacked My Sleep as a Programmer

    How I Hacked My Sleep as a Programmer

    Six years ago I was suddenly struck with chronic insomnia where I couldn't sleep more than 3 hours a night. This lasted for nearly 3 years, and I struggled through sleep studies, behavioral changes, and all the typical tips you read online about overcoming insomnia.
    Working as a programmer in the tech industry can create a lot of anxiety because we work with our mind. And if your mind is stressed out, add on to that the pressure of personal relationships and finances - and you've got a recipe for horrible sleep problems.
    What ultimately treated my insomnia and helped me heal was a combination of psychological, behavioral, environmental, and physical changes I made. In this episode I share 25 practical steps you can try if you're personally struggling with getting a good night's sleep. I hope if you've lost hope that healing your insomnia is possible, my story and what I did gives you the courage to give it another try.
    Join my Patreon: 
    https://www.patreon.com/HealthySoftwareDeveloper 
    Learn about the CBT-i app: 
    https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/cbticoach_app_public.asp 
    Download my free career guide: 
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/guide/
    Get access to TechRolepedia, a data hub about the top 25 roles in tech: 
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/techroles/
    Learn about career coaching:  
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/coaching/
    You can also watch this episode on YouTube. 
    Chapter markers / timelinks:
    (1:15) Negative Effects of Insomnia
    (2:19) Categories of Insomnia Solutions
    (2:29) 1. Psychological Sleep Solutions for Insomnia
    (2:35) 1.1 Wrap Up Your Workday
    (3:57) 1.2 Keep a Notepad By Your Bed
    (5:03) 1.3 Schedule Worry Time
    (7:04) 1.4 Do 1 Thing You're Putting Off
    (8:41) 1.5 Reduce Social Media Use
    (9:21) 2. Behavior Sleep Solutions for Insomnia
    (9:27) 2.1 Set a Realistic Sleep and Wake Time
    (11:54) 2.2 Don't Look at The Clock
    (12:58) 2.3 Only Use Your Bed for Sleep or Sex
    (14:10) 2.4 Stay off Devices for an Hour Before Bed
    (15:19) 2.5 Quit Drinking or Doing Drugs
    (16:35) 3. Environmental Sleep Solutions for Insomnia
    (16:40) 3.1 Keep Your Room Dark and Cold
    (18:28) 3.2 Use a Fan or White Noise Generator
    (19:37) 3.3 Use Tungsten Light Bulbs
    (21:32) 3.4 Use a CPAP Machine or Tape
    (23:05) 3.5 Side Sleeping with a Tall Pillow
    (24:20) 4. Physical Sleep Solutions for Insomnia
    (24:24) 4.1 Don't Eat or Drink After Dinner
    (25:33) 4.2 Cardio Exercise Every Morning
    (28:45) 4.3 Reduce or Eliminate Caffeine
    (31:07) 4.4 Drink Water Throughout the Day
    (32:29) 4.5 Get Enough Magnesium
    Visit me at healthysoftwaredeveloper.com
    Find me on X as @jaymeedwards
    Find me on LinkedIn as jaymeedwards

    • 36 min
    Can a "DIY Mindset" Keep Programmers From Growing?

    Can a "DIY Mindset" Keep Programmers From Growing?

    We programmers love to "do it ourselves", and this can help us stay productive and keep ourselves busy. But the dark side of this tendency, is that it can make it harder to get help - when we actually need it.
    In this episode, I share some ways I've learned that software engineers are trained by society, the workforce, and the software industry to resist getting help from others. Then I offer some practical questions you can ask yourself to know if you're in a situation where you should really adopt the DIY mindset - or avoid getting trapped into learning something you don't need to.
    Join my Patreon: 
    https://www.patreon.com/HealthySoftwareDeveloper 
    Download my free career guide: 
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/guide/
    Get access to TechRolepedia, a data hub about the top 25 roles in tech: 
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/techroles/
    Learn about career coaching:  
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/coaching/
    You can also watch this episode on YouTube. 
    Chapter markers / timelinks:
    (1:22) 1 3 Reasons Why Programmers Don't Get Help
    (1:28) 1.1 Individualized Education
    (2:02) 1.2 Corporate Reinforcement
    (2:41) 1.3 Gossip over Substance
    (4:49) 2 5 Reasons DIY Can Be a Bad Idea
    (4:57) 2.1 Low Repeatability Activity
    (6:41) 2.2 Outside Your Core Skill Set
    (7:41) 2.3 You've Failed 3 Times
    (9:23) 2.4 You Keep Putting It Off
    (10:41) 2.5 Easy Access to An Expert
    (12:33) Episode Groove
    Visit me at healthysoftwaredeveloper.com
    Find me on X as @jaymeedwards
    Find me on LinkedIn as jaymeedwards

    • 14 min
    Why Nobody's Buying Your Ideas in Tech

    Why Nobody's Buying Your Ideas in Tech

    Ever try to sell someone on why you're the right person for them to hire in tech? Or maybe you have a software product or offer freelance IT consulting services you need to sell? I'll bet you've run into the situation where the other person you're talking to doesn't seem to "get" why you're the best solution to their tech problems.
    In this episode, I share what I've learned through digital marketing about how to really connect with the person you're convincing in tech, so they can understand the value you offer - and buy your idea. This can help you escape the corporate grind and work for yourself as an entrepreneur, consultant, coach - or sell courses. But it can also help you with the everyday challenge of convincing software architects, managers, and anyone you work with to support any idea you have.
    Download my free Career Guide here: 
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/guide/
    Get free access to TechRolepedia here: 
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/techroles/
    Need help with your career? Learn about career coaching:  
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/coaching/
    You can also watch this episode on YouTube. 
    Chapter markers / timelinks:
    (3:02) Episode Outline
    (4:25) 1 How Aware Is Your Prospect of The Problem?
    (5:10) 1.1 Problem Unaware
    (7:27) 1.2 Problem Aware
    (9:46) 1.3 Solution Aware
    (10:43) 1.4 Ready to Buy
    (13:46) 2 How Well Do You Know Your Prospect?
    (14:44) 2.1 Basic Demographics
    (16:12) 2.2 Industry-Specific Demographics
    (18:21) 2.3 Psychographic Profile
    (21:29) 3 Are You Selling To The Right Prospect?
    (21:37) 3.1 Who's The Ultimate Buyer?
    (23:52) 3.2 What's The Prospect's Budget?
    (25:47) 3.3 How Urgent Is Solving The Problem?
    Visit me at healthysoftwaredeveloper.com
    Find me on X as @jaymeedwards
    Find me on LinkedIn as jaymeedwards

    • 28 min
    Should You Fight Dirty to Climb The Tech Ladder?

    Should You Fight Dirty to Climb The Tech Ladder?

    On the first software project of my career, I thought doing a good job was all that mattered to move ahead. And while I was successful, I was manipulated by many other programmers through political games. After that experience, I was tempted many times in my career to fight dirty. And sometimes, I made the wrong decision.
    In this episode, I share the reasons why we're tempted as coders on software projects to throw ethics to the wind when the temptation for money, power, or prestige are strong. And how falling prey to that temptation may get you ahead in the short term, but it hurts you in the end.
    I hope you find some encouragement to take the high road when faced with political games on software development teams, and refuse to bend to other people's will who are unethical!
    Download my free Career Guide here: 
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/guide/
    Get free access to TechRolepedia here: 
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/techroles/
    Need help with your career? Learn about career coaching:  
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/coaching/
    You can also watch this episode on YouTube. 
    Chapter markers / timelinks:
    (2:04) 1. Why Programmers Are Tempted To Fight Dirty
    (2:09) 1.1 High Stakes Competition
    (3:00) 1.2 Visibility and Recognition
    (3:50) 1.3 Fear of Obsolescence
    (5:32) 1.4 Cultural and Structural Encouragement
    (8:22) 1.5 Misguided Notions of Success
    (9:37) 2. Resisting Corruption in Tech
    (10:31) 2.1 Long Term Results & Reputation
    (12:39) 2.2 The Power of Networking
    (14:54) 2.3 Personal Peace and Satisfaction
    (17:17) 2.4 The Ripple Effect of Positivity
    (18:42) 2.5 Faith In Doing The Right Thing
    (20:10) Episode Groove
    Visit me at healthysoftwaredeveloper.com
    Find me on X as @jaymeedwards
    Find me on LinkedIn as jaymeedwards

    • 21 min
    Do Programmers Think Intelligence Makes Them Wise?

    Do Programmers Think Intelligence Makes Them Wise?

    After my first decade of coding, I learned so much I thought: "I must be at least somewhat intelligent, right?". But there was something more valuable I lacked - wisdom. Without wisdom, you'll make decisions in your career that look right in the short term - but turn out disastrous over time.
    Wisdom is the ability to make decisions when the rules don't apply. There's no book you can read, no guide to follow, and no clear cut answer. It's derived from experience, sound judgment, a broad perspective, and considering the ethical implications of a decision. And if you learn to cultivate wisdom, you can achieve the things that really matter in your career - and life.
    In this episode I share why people in tech careers often mistake intelligence for wisdom. Then I'll help you understand why our industry is so prone to making unwise decisions. I'll go on to help you see the dangerous outcomes of short-term thinking. And finally, I'll share some practical things you can do to become a wiser programmer - and technologist in general.
    Download my free Career Guide here: 
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/guide/
    Get free access to TechRolepedia here: 
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/techroles/
    Need help with your career? Learn about career coaching:  
    https://healthysoftwaredeveloper.com/coaching/
    You can also watch this episode on YouTube. 
    Chapter markers / timelinks:
    (1:23) Defining Intelligence and Wisdom
    (2:14) Stories of Intelligence and Wisdom
    (5:10) 1. How Tech Jobs Confuse Intelligence and Wisdom
    (5:20) 1.1 Equating Problem Solving with Broad Insight
    (6:27) 1.2 Prioritizing Speed over Sustainability
    (7:51) 1.3 Specializing vs Holistic Understanding
    (9:44) 2. How Ignoring Wisdom Hurts Us in Tech
    (9:51) 2.1 Ethical Implications
    (12:42) 2.2 Short-Term Over Long-Term Thinking
    (13:45) 3. How To Be a Wiser Technologist
    (13:52) 3.1 Expand Your Breadth of Knowledge
    (16:35) 3.2 Get a Mentor
    (18:30) 3.3 Reflect and Be Mindful
    (22:02) 3.4 Seek the Counsel of Generalists
    (25:02) 3.5 Engage with Non-Technical Communities
    Visit me at healthysoftwaredeveloper.com
    Find me on X as @jaymeedwards
    Find me on LinkedIn as jaymeedwards

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
21 Ratings

21 Ratings

BusyandTiredDad ,

Real stories for finding balance in life

Working in the software industry can be fun and rewarding. It can also be stressful and life-consuming. Jayme Edwards is great at sharing his experiences and what he’s learned in his career to help others in the industry. He’s great at analyzing and dismantling some of the toxic parts of the industry.

The extreme honesty and vulnerability he shows in these episodes make it feel like a close friend is sharing their best advice with you. I’ve enjoyed every podcast I’ve listened to.

seand03 ,

Great advice if you want a long career as a Software Engineer

This podcast talks about how to balance your life and software engineering. Each episode feels like something I’ve experienced or am currently in the midst of right now. Topics are relevant and current.

BacalhauMasterRace ,

The best

I have been listening to dozens of youtube channels // podcasts related to software development advice and no one reaches the quality and honesty that Jayme brings. As a young woman starting my CS career this gave me powerful insights over the professional life in the industry and a better overview on how to deal with certain aspects of it. Too bad no new episodes are coming, at least on his youtube channel and here on apple podcasts. Jayme is G.O.A.T!

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