Best Ryan Frisch Podcasts (2026)

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Remote Ruby Wrapped 35:49

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4d ago35:49

35:49

In this episode of Remote Ruby, Chris, Andrew, and David humorously discuss the rapid increase of 'wrapped' features in various apps, recount personal experiences with food apps, and then dive into their favorite conference moments of the year. They also explore the concept of UI affordances and its importance in web design and give a preview of up…

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Ruby Upgrades & RAM Shortages 33:02

11d ago33:02

33:02

Chris, Andrew, and David are back together, and the conversation starts out with TV talk, Fallout hype, why some shows overstay their welcome (Prison Break), and the “season one magic” problem (Reacher). Then there’s a big shoutout to Marco’s Rails Luminary win, and a deep dive into AI rabbit holes: self-hosting LLMs, Mac minis, and the looming rea…

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Why Peter Thiel’s Founder Rules Keep Paying Off 1:08:04

16d ago1:08:04

1:08:04

A Note from James: One of my favorite conversations on this show was with Peter Thiel. Yes—PayPal, Facebook, Palantir, and a dozen other hits. I first ran this episode years ago, and the advice still holds up. The same stories, the same frameworks—and the same challenge to think from first principles. Here’s Peter Thiel, one of the most influential…

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Jumpstart Pro Evolution - Streamlining Rails Development 1:05:42

18d ago1:05:42

1:05:42

In this episode, Chris and David Hill catch up on wild winter temperature swings, then dive into what Chris has been refactoring in Jumpstart to reduce merge pain, cut dependencies, and make upgrades smoother. The conversation branches into AI-assisted coding pitfalls and where AI shines, new web security headers that could simplify CSRF handling, …

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“If You’re Still Trying to Be Rational Now, You’re Crazy:” Comedian Tim Dillon on Being Informed vs. Being Ignorant 1:49:04

19d ago1:49:04

1:49:04

A Note from James: Tim Dillon is crazy—in the best way. Not “institution” crazy. Crazy smart. Years ago he told me things about Epstein, hustle culture, and how the world really works that felt outlandish then and obvious now. He’s quirky, honest, and usually right about what to pay attention to. Also, he’s flat-out funny. Let’s bring Tim back and …

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Joined by David Hill 42:51

25d ago42:51

42:51

Chris and Andrew kick things off with some weather whiplash and snowblower talk before introducing a new guest on the show, long-time Rubyist David Hill. They chat about fast food and favorite shows, David’s accidental path into Ruby and Rails, and various projects he’s worked on, including an AED management application. The discussion also touches…

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How to Challenge Moon Landing Hoax Theories: Insights from Brian Keating 1:01:32

30d ago1:01:32

1:01:32

James brings back astrophysicist Brian Keating for a practical takedown of moon-landing conspiracy claims—and a wider lesson in how to reason when everyone has a microphone. From the Van Allen belts to “the flag waving,” Keating separates physics from folklore, explains what evidence actually looks like (hello, laser retroreflectors), and gives a p…

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Digital Social Hour Podcast by Sean Kelly: Why Gen Z Might Be the Most Talented Generation in History 57:48

1M ago57:48

57:48

Today, we're sharing the recent episode of the Digital Social Hour Podcast by Sean Kelly. James Altucher joins the show to break down why the 10,000-hour rule is a myth, how to cheat your way into the top 1%, why obsession matters more than talent, and how AI is now the greatest mentor of all time. From entrepreneurship and failure… to mental healt…

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Docker Disasters and Dev Container Journeys 1:17:43

1M ago1:17:43

1:17:43

Andrew kicks off at 8 a.m. with six Docker containers running, and he and Chris dive into what modern Rails development looks like inside dev containers—covering Rails’ own images and features, using Mise and Playwright instead of Selenium, and why OrbStack has replaced Docker Desktop on their Macs. They talk through the trade-offs of running servi…

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Nate Berkopec 53:17

1M ago53:17

53:17

In this episode, Nate Berkopec, the proprietor of Speedshop, a Ruby on Rails performance consultancy, author of several books including the Complete Guide to Rails Performance, and a maintainer of Puma, joins the podcast. Nate discusses his journey into Rails performance optimization, starting from his early career at startups and his breakthrough …

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San Francisco Ruby Conference Recap 44:20

1M ago44:20

44:20

Andrew returns from SF Ruby with a lot more than conference swag! He brings a clear snapshot of where Ruby, Rails, and AI are headed right now. In this episode, he and Chris walk through the most impactful talks from SF Ruby, share highlights of engaging discussions with other developers and friends, reminisces about nostalgic tech items, and explo…

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How AI Will Change Hollywood Forever: Tye Sheridan & Nikola Todorovic on AI, VFX, and the Future of Filmmaking 1:03:35

1M ago1:03:35

1:03:35

A Note from James: Tye Sheridan is one of my favorite actors. You might know him as Cyclops in the X-Men movies (Apocalypse, etc.) or as the lead in Ready Player One—which is not only a great movie but also one of my favorite sci-fi books. One of his first films was Mud with Matthew McConaughey. What I didn’t realize: since 2016, while still acting…

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AI That Helps, Schools That Don’t, and How Not to Go Crazy with Prof. Brian Keating 1:41:08

2M ago1:41:08

1:41:08

Episode Description: James sits down with astrophysicist Brian Keating for a candid, useful tour through three hot zones: how to think about AI (and where it actually helps), what’s broken in higher ed and admissions right now, and why outsourcing your mood to politics is a losing strategy. You’ll hear first-hand stories (from UC San Diego classroo…

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Rails Business with Brendan Buckingham and Ryan Frisch 1:07:34

2M ago1:07:34

1:07:34

In this episode of Remote Ruby, Chris and Andrew have a lively conversation with Brendan Buckingham and Ryan Frisch from the Rails Business Podcast. They discuss their experiences and journeys with Ruby on Rails, starting from their early encounters with the technology to hosting a specialized Rails podcast. Critical technical topics are covered, i…

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Communicating Project Requirements 32:26

2M ago32:26

32:26

In this episode, we tackle the nuances of communicating project requirements within development teams. From managing user stories and acceptance criteria to balancing control and flexibility, we explore best practices for ensuring clarity and efficiency. We share real-world experiences, including the effectiveness of detailed videos and spikes in g…

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Kent Heckenlively on Catastrophic Disclosure: UFO Whistleblowers, Government Spin, and James’s 85% Rule 1:01:38

2M ago1:01:38

1:01:38

A Note from James: Are UFOs real or not? For 80 years there have been credible whistleblowers saying the government recovered craft—and even bodies. That’s why I wanted Kent Heckenlively on, the author of Catastrophic Disclosure: The Deep State, Aliens, and the Truth. I’m not here to decide for you. I want to hear the best evidence, ask the obvious…

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Managing Open Source with Nate Berkopec 46:37

2M ago46:37

46:37

In this episode, guest Nate Berkopec joins Chris and Andrew to discuss the current state and cultural controversies surrounding Ruby Gems, Bundler, and open-source projects in general. The conversation dives into the split within the Ruby community, the complexities of maintaining key projects, and the challenges of funding and sustaining open-sour…

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Wisdom Takes Work: Ryan Holiday on What AI Can’t Teach You 1:02:08

2M ago1:02:08

1:02:08

A Note from James: Wisdom Takes Work is Ryan Holiday’s fourth book exploring the Stoic virtues, and this time he’s taking on the big one — wisdom. His earlier books on courage, temperance, and justice were all great conversations, but this one hit me personally. I’ve often thought I had wisdom, only to realize later that I didn’t — or at least not …

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Stephen Anderson 47:31

2M ago47:31

47:31

In this episode, we welcome Stephen Anderson, founder and owner of Bendyworks, a Madison, Wisconsin based Ruby on Rails consultancy. Stephen shares his journey from corporate Java consulting to building a values-driven software shop, discussing his philosophy of constantly seeking 10x productivity improvements and the pivotal moments that led him t…

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Jeff Pearlman on Tupac Shakur: The Myths, the Music, and the Man Behind the Legend 52:26

2M ago52:26

52:26

A Note from James Tupac Shakur—one of the greatest rap artists ever—was shot and killed almost two decades ago. What else is there left to say about him? What new things can be said? Well, Jeff Pearlman’s new book, Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur, takes on that challenge. In our conversation, we talk about what Jeff uncovered …

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Former FBI Agent, Eric O’Neill on Spies, Lies, and the Cyber Wars We’re Already Losing 57:47

2M ago57:47

57:47

A Note from James Oh my gosh—I was scared after this one. In this episode, I learned about what’s really on the dark web… and the even scarier stuff on what’s called the deep web. Eric O’Neill—who, by the way, is the former FBI agent who brought down Robert Hanssen, the biggest double agent in U.S. history—joined me for this conversation. Hanssen w…

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Scott Werner 41:13

3M ago41:13

41:13

In this episode, we welcome Scott Werner, CEO of Sublayer, to discuss the future of software development and how AI is transforming the industry. Scott shares his experiences and insights on how AI is changing the way startups build and maintain software products, including Sublayer’s AI-driven tools like APM, Augmentations, and Artificial Ruby. Th…

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I Know that She Knows that I Know that She Knows: Steven Pinker on the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life 1:07:50

3M ago1:07:50

1:07:50

A Note from James I first got really impressed with Steven Pinker when he wrote The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined. He basically shows that over the past 10,000 years, every single century has been less violent than the one before it. You might think, “That can’t include the 20th century,” right? We had World War I, World Wa…

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Chris Is Back, Ruby Drama, Projects, and Parenthood 50:57

3M ago50:57

50:57

In this episode of Remote Ruby, Chris and Andrew catch up with Chris discussing the arrival of a new baby and the challenges of balancing work and parenting. Then, they dive into the complexities of dealing with OpenSSL 3.6 issues on their development environments, exploring various debugging attempts and ultimately finding a workaround. The conver…

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Obsession, Secrets, and Sleight of Hand: Inside the Hidden World of Modern Magicians with Ian Frisch 1:26:14

3M ago1:26:14

1:26:14

A Note from James I’ve always loved books where a journalist gets so deep into a subculture that they become part of it. Magic Is Dead by Ian Frisch is one of those. He starts out covering a secret society of magicians—“The 52,” named for the cards in a deck—and ends up becoming one of them. It reminded me of other favorites like Word Freak (Scrabb…

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Chris Gaffney 40:21

3M ago40:21

40:21

This week, Chris Gaffney, owner of Dead Man's Snitch, a niche monitoring service for CRON jobs and service heartbeats joined us. Discover the origins of the company, its growth journey, and the challenges faced in achieving uptime and scalability. Chris also shares insights on the tech stack used, the role of Rails in their development, and the imp…

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Morgan Housel on The Art of Spending Money and Why Independence Is the Real Luxury 1:06:30

3M ago1:06:30

1:06:30

A Note from James I’m such a fan of this guy. I loved The Psychology of Money — it felt like he was writing directly about me. I’ve made a lot of money, lost it all, made it again, lost it again. Over and over. And Morgan gets it. His new book, The Art of Spending Money, hits even deeper. It’s not just about being rich; it’s about freedom, simplici…

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Who Owns RubyGems? Inside the Ruby Central Controversy 51:29

3M ago51:29

51:29

In this episode of Remote Ruby, Chris is on paternity leave celebrating the birth of his son, so Andrew brings in Drew Bragg and Rachael Wright-Munn (aka ChaelCodes), to discuss recent controversies surrounding Ruby Central and its alleged takeover of Ruby Gems and Bundler. They dive into the timeline of events, conflicting narratives, communicatio…

3M ago2:01:18

2:01:18

A Note from James This might be the most insane chess story I’ve ever heard—not even really a chess story, but a cult story. It’s wild, intense, and ultimately inspiring. Danny Rensch grew up in a cult in Arizona. At just 10 years old, the cult leader noticed his chess ability, took him away from his parents, and he wouldn’t see his mother again fo…