Ready, Test, Go. — The Podcast on Software Quality and Digital Experiences

Applause
  • 5.0 (4)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Ready, Test, Go. brought to you by Applause is the award-winning podcast for engineering, QA, product and AI leaders who want to build trustworthy digital experiences. Host David Carty interviews thought leaders across software testing, AI adoption, UX/CX and product delivery to uncover the ideas and practices shaping modern digital quality. Each episode blends practical insights and big-picture thinking on topics like AI validation, data quality, effective testing, inclusive design, accessibility and frictionless customer journeys. With past guests including Gene Kim, Michael Bolton and Sandy Pentland, the show provides insights that help teams deliver more reliable, user-centered technology.

  1. 2D AGO

    From Digital Curb Cuts to Alien Intelligence: Best of 2025

    Many organizations are struggling to balance rapid innovation with high-quality user experiences. From inaccessible interfaces to the "black labyrinth" of generative AI, professionals face the daunting task of building products that are functional, ethical and inclusive. In this "Best of 2025" episode, host David Carty highlights key insights from a prestigious group of experts. The discussion spans the concept of "digital curb cuts" in accessibility to the challenges of artifact-based testing and the urgent need for responsible AI strategies. Tune in to learn how to truly prioritize the end user and navigate the complexities of modern digital quality. About the guest: This episode features a powerhouse lineup of industry thought leaders. Featured guests include Michael Bolton, a world-renowned software testing expert; Lisa Crispin, a pioneer in Agile testing; Sandy Pentland, one of the most-cited scientists in the world; and Nathan Chappell, a leader in AI ethics. Hosted by David Carty Produced by David Carty, Samsu Sallah and Joe Stella Graphic design by Karley Searles To contact the producers, please email us at podcasts@applause.com.

    23 min

  2. 12/30/2025

    Opening Minds with Accessibility Research (Jamila Evilsizor)

    Inclusive design and accessibility research are reshaping how teams define software quality — and the benefits are both strategic and altruistic. Accessibility research expert Jamila Evilsizor joins us on this episode of the Ready, Test, Go. podcast to explore why real user voices matter more than guidelines when building reliable digital experiences. Jamila shares how first-hand accessibility research changes executive mindsets, why “just make it work” is often the real goal for users with disabilities, and how teams can move beyond WCAG compliance toward truly usable products. Some highlights from this digital accessibility-centric episode include: - Why accessibility guidelines are the baseline — not the finish line - How user research influences product, engineering and culture - What practical methods can help embed accessibility into everyday delivery - Why autonomy, dignity and privacy must be in focus Subscribe for more conversations on software quality, AI and modern digital experiences. Hosted by David Carty Produced by David Carty, Samsu Sallah and Joe Stella Graphic design by Karley Searles Find more digital quality content at: https://www.youtube.com/@ApplauseDotCom/videos To contact the producers, please email us at podcasts@applause.com

    26 min

  3. 12/10/2025

    Holistic Testing and the Culture of Quality (Lisa Crispin)

    Agile testing pioneer Lisa Crispin joins the Ready, Test, Go. podcast brought to you by Applause to unpack holistic testing, whole-team quality and how to build reliable digital experiences at scale. Lisa is an independent consultant, co-founder of the Agile Testing Fellowship with Janet Gregory, and co-author of Holistic Testing: Weave Quality Into Your Product. Some software quality insights from the episode: How the Holistic Testing Model grew from Agile testing quadrants and the DevOps loopWhy the best teams weave testing into every stage of deliveryHow short feedback loops and observability help reveal real software qualityPractical ways to help non-testers — developers, designers, product — own qualityWhy AI and test automation are “amplifiers,” not replacements for quality engineersYou can see what Lisa’s up to, schedule some coaching or consulting time or read her thought leadership content at LisaCrispin.com. And you can find links to her books at Agiletester.ca. Subscribe for more conversations on software quality, AI and modern digital experiences. Hosted by David Carty Produced by David Carty, Samsu Sallah and Joe Stella Graphic design by Karley Searles Find more thought leadership content at: https://www.youtube.com/@ApplauseDotCom/videos To contact the producers, please email us at podcasts@applause.com.

    43 min

  4. 11/12/2025

    Stories, Society and the Future of AI (Sandy Pentland)

    Sandy Pentland, Senior Research Fellow at Stanford HAI, discusses how innovators are grappling with the societal impact of technology, the challenges of creating reliable products in a world driven by narratives and the concept of abductive reasoning in validating AI applications. Pentland also introduces the Four Horsemen of Social Failure and practices to mitigate AI risks. About the guest: Alex Pentland is a Stanford HAI Fellow and MIT Toshiba Professor. Named one of the “100 people to watch this century” by Newsweek and “one of the seven most powerful data scientists in the world” by Forbes, he is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering, an advisor to Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Lab, and an advisor to the UN Secretary General’s office. His work has helped manage privacy and security for the world’s digital networks by establishing authentication standards, protect personal privacy by contributing to the pioneering EU privacy law, and provide healthcare support for hundreds of millions of people worldwide through both for-profit and not-for-profit companies. His latest book, Shared Wisdom: Cultural Evolution in the Age of AI, can be found here: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262050999/shared-wisdom/ Hosted by David Carty Produced by David Carty, Samsu Sallah and Joe Stella Graphic design by Karley Searles To contact the producers, please email us at podcasts@applause.com.

    48 min

  5. 09/30/2025

    Why Inclusive Design Matters More Than Ever (William Reuschel)

    Listen as William Reuschel, Inclusive Design Practice Lead at Applause, joins the podcast. He digs into the critical importance of inclusive design, exploring how it transcends compliance to become a significant competitive advantage and catalyst for innovation. He also discusses what differentiates companies that prioritize accessibility from those that view it solely as a legal risk, especially in light of the new EAA regulations, as well as ways to measure accessibility success. About the guest: William Reuschel has over 10 years of experience helping teams develop products that are accessible, inclusive, and a delight to their customers. He is an expert in accessibility and inclusive design and has the technical expertise to guide designers and developers to scalable and repeatable success. He holds a degree in computer science, a Web Accessibility Specialist certificate from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, and is a Certified Scrum Master. William spent the formative years of his career with an advocacy organization working closely with assistive technology users to evaluate both the accessibility and usability of critical products and services for people with disabilities. Through this work, he developed an understanding not only of the impact of technology on an individual’s life, but also the power of technology to build a more inclusive future for everyone. William is passionate about sharing his experience and building empathy with product teams to realize his vision of a fully inclusive future. Learn more about Applause’s Accessibility Testing Solution here: https://www.applause.com/accessibility-testing/ Hosted by David Carty Produced by David Carty, Samsu Sallah and Joe Stella Graphic design by Karley Searles To contact the producers, please email us at podcasts@applause.com.

    49 min

  6. 08/13/2025

    Embracing Weird User Behavior (Gojko Adzic)

    Many product teams focus on the largest group of users, but what if the key to your product's growth lies in the hands of the “lizard users,” the small segment of users who go against the grain and interact with your system in unexpected ways? It's a truth that many successful products stumble upon success by what feels like serendipity — but it doesn't have to be random. In this episode, software delivery expert Gojko Adzic explains how to systematically observe how people are misusing or abusing a product to figure out underserved use cases and unexpected value. He shares the four steps of "Lizard Optimization" and how this technique led to a 100x growth for his own product, Narakeet, a text-to-speech video maker. About the guest: Gojko Adzic is a partner at Neuri Consulting LLP. He is an internationally recognized software delivery consultant and author of several books, including "Lizard Optimization: Unlock Product Growth by Engaging Long-Tail Users." Gojko is known for advancing Agile and testing practices in some of the world's largest companies. You can find Gojko’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Lizard-Optimization-Product-Engaging-Long-Tail/dp/0993088171 Gojko also referenced the following material in this episode: - The PayPal origin story is from Founders at Work: https://www.amazon.com/Founders-Work-Stories-Startups-Early-ebook/dp/B009IXMK4O - Success/failure rates are from Trustworthy Online Controlled Experiments: https://www.amazon.com/Trustworthy-Online-Controlled-Experiments-Practical/dp/1108724264 - The reference for Amazon execs spending time in customer servicing is from Working Backwards: https://www.amazon.com/Working-Backwards-PB/dp/1529033845 - Connecting the loop at Eventbrite/Rachael Neumann video: https://vimeo.com/337949688 - HBR/Amy Gallo reference on retention metrics: https://hbr.org/2014/10/the-value-of-keeping-the-right-customers Hosted by David Carty Produced by David Carty, Samsu Sallah and Joe Stella Graphic design by Karley Searles To contact the producers, please email us at podcasts@applause.com.

    42 min

  7. 07/17/2025

    Building an AI-First Business (Andy Sack)

    The rapid advancement of AI is fundamentally reshaping how businesses operate and experiment, promising unprecedented productivity gains and new avenues for growth. However, for many organizations, the path to widespread, aggressive enterprise AI adoption remains fraught with challenges, from navigating technical complexities to establishing robust governance and data quality strategies. Businesses are grappling with how to integrate AI effectively while mitigating risks and ensuring a high level of digital quality. In this episode, Andy Sack, co-founder and co-CEO of Forum3 — and co-author of AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand — dives into what it means to build an AI first organization. He shares insights from his conversations with AI luminaries like Sam Altman and Bill Gates, discusses strategies for achieving early AI wins and offers guidance on balancing innovation, performance and quality in the age of AI. About the guest: Andy Sack is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor and AI transformation enthusiast with more than 25 years of experience across technology, finance and venture capital. As co-founder and co-CEO of Forum3, he helps brands navigate and leverage emerging AI technologies. Andy is also the co-author of the recently released book, AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand, which offers a guide to building AI-centric businesses. You can find Andy’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/AI-First-Playbook-Future-Proof-Business/dp/1647829658/ Hosted by David Carty Produced by David Carty, Samsu Sallah and Joe Stella Graphic design by Karley Searles To contact the producers, please email us at podcasts@applause.com.

    23 min

  8. 05/01/2025

    AI Lessons from the Nonprofit Sector (Nathan Chappell)

    Organizations across all sectors are increasingly exploring with and implementing artificial intelligence, with significant opportunities and complex challenges abound. How should organizations deal with the concerning ethical considerations and the potential for unintended consequences? How can they minimize risk and help ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed responsibly? In this episode, we speak with Nathan Chappell, Senior Vice President of DonorSearch AI and founder of Fundraising AI. A leading voice in the application of artificial intelligence for social good, Nathan shares his expert perspective on how nonprofit organizations are navigating the AI landscape with a strong emphasis on ethical practices. He discusses the distinctions between AI usage in for-profit and nonprofit contexts, the vital need for widespread AI literacy and concrete steps organizations can take to cultivate trustworthy and beneficial AI solutions. About the guest: Nathan is the Senior Vice President of DonorSearch AI, where he leads enterprise AI strategies for some of the nation’s most innovative nonprofit organizations. Nathan is the founder of Fundraising.AI, a 6,000-plus member collaborative dedicated to advancing responsible and ethical AI use in fundraising. With over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, he has spearheaded multi-billion-dollar campaigns and now focuses on helping mission-driven organizations scale impact through responsible technology. Nathan is also a prolific author and public speaker. He co-authored The Generosity Crisis and Nonprofit AI, and was the first to deliver a TEDx talk on AI and the future of generosity. You can find Nathan’s latest book here: https://www.amazon.com/Nonprofit-Comprehensive-Implementing-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/139431664X/ Hosted by David Carty Produced by David Carty, Samsu Sallah and Joe Stella Graphic design by Karley Searles To contact the producers, please email us at podcasts@applause.com.

    40 min
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Ready, Test, Go. brought to you by Applause is the award-winning podcast for engineering, QA, product and AI leaders who want to build trustworthy digital experiences. Host David Carty interviews thought leaders across software testing, AI adoption, UX/CX and product delivery to uncover the ideas and practices shaping modern digital quality. Each episode blends practical insights and big-picture thinking on topics like AI validation, data quality, effective testing, inclusive design, accessibility and frictionless customer journeys. With past guests including Gene Kim, Michael Bolton and Sandy Pentland, the show provides insights that help teams deliver more reliable, user-centered technology.

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