Best Unknown Error Podcasts (2025)

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Engage in Deliberate Practice to Level Up Your Engineering Leadership Skills 18:08

Play Pause

3h ago18:08

18:08

I want to dive into the concept of Deliberate Practice, which sets the greatest apart in fields ranging from sports to writing to engineering. I’ll explain why it’s much more than just repetition or experience, and why applying it to your career can lead to rapid improvement. Most importantly, I will provide concrete ways you can apply deliberate p…

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Björn J son Lindh -Bike voyage 2 3:25

3h ago3:25

3:25

A test episode about the mildly famous musician and thee samples from the LP Bike voyage 2. His is instrumental and if you have a good HiFi stereo this music will be candy to your ears. If the video icon is a small square surrounded by fog, some devices, like my TV, is unable to load the video(Buffer error). Search for another version or try stream…

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Shift Your Locus of Control to Take Charge of Your Engineering Career 20:45

5d ago20:45

20:45

This episode explores the concept of Locus of Control and why developing a more internal locus of control is beneficial for your career and life. You'll learn the difference between internal and external perspectives, why one is more useful than the other, and practical exercises to shift your mindset to believe you have more influence over the out…

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Resumé Driven Development - Your Career is In Your Hands 12:27

13d ago12:27

12:27

In this episode we'll discuss why "Résumé Driven Development" is a powerful mental model for building a thriving career. Instead of seeing your résumé as just a job-hunting tool, you'll learn to use it as a guide for setting measurable, impactful goals that benefit you, your manager, and your company. Focus on Impact, Not Just Tasks: Discover why a…

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Forced and Unforced Errors 15:31

19d ago15:31

15:31

In this episode, we introduce a simple yet powerful mental model from the world of sports: forced vs. unforced errors. By understanding this concept, you can shift your focus from things outside your control to the simple, foundational behaviours that truly define a successful career. Understand the Difference: Learn the distinction between forced …

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View Your Productivity Through the Lens of Values and Priorities 13:39

23d ago13:39

13:39

In this episode, we introduce two fundamental thought experiments to help you uncover your true priorities and core values. By exploring scenarios of scarcity and abundance, you'll learn to align your daily actions with what truly matters, leading to a more satisfied career and life. Uncover Your Priorities: Engage in a "5% exercise" where you imag…

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This One Skill Signifies Seniority For Software Engineers 14:28

1M ago14:28

14:28

This episode explains what is arguably the best career advice you'll hear this week: the one skill that signifies seniority in software engineers is the ability to synthesise and optimise for multiple factors at once. Instead of focusing on a single factor, such as performance or maintainability, senior engineers identify and weigh the various trad…

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Backup Plans and Risk Reward Curves 13:50

1M ago13:50

13:50

This episode focuses on the critical importance of having a backup plan, not just for technical redundancies but especially for situations involving human error, which are highly prevalent in one's career. The core argument hinges on understanding risk and reward curves, highlighting the disproportionate impact of failures compared to incremental s…

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Second Order Consequences and Forcing Functions 23:45

2M ago23:45

23:45

Todays episode delves into understanding and leveraging second and third-order consequences – the ripple effects that occur after an initial action – and introduces forcing functions, which are an inverted way of thinking about these consequences, designed to drive desired outcomes by first determining "what must be true" for them to occur. The epi…

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Don't Try to Solve Hyperobject Problems Once 15:46

2M ago15:46

15:46

This episode delves into the philosophical concept of hyperobjects – problems so vast and complex they lack clear boundaries and cannot be "solved" once and for all. It explores why attempting to permanently fix issues like technical debt, user experience, or performance management is often ineffective. Instead, it offers a new perspective: how to …

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Behavior Change 101: Trigger, Incentive, and Ability 20:16

2M ago20:16

20:16

This episode delves into a powerful model for encouraging behaviour change, applicable to both managing others and self-improvement, by focusing on three critical factors: Trigger, Incentive, and Ability. It challenges common, ineffective management approaches and provides insights into fostering new habits and desired actions by making the 'right'…

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Goal of the Goal - Using Goals As A Prioritization Clarifying Tool 26:13

2M ago26:13

26:13

This episode delves into the crucial role of well-positioned goals in a developer's career. It asserts that goals provide clarity, perspective, and purpose, particularly focusing on clarity as a primary benefit. The discussion challenges common struggles with goal setting, including the often-overlooked importance of relevance (the 'R' in SMART goa…

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Your Capacity for Growth Is Dependent on This Factor - Cognitive Load Theory 23:49

3M ago23:49

23:49

Today we explore Cognitive Load Theory. This concept can profoundly influence how you structure your workday, manage teams, and approach learning in your career. The episode highlights that much of professional work, particularly in knowledge-based roles like software engineering, is fundamentally about learning. You will discover that there is an …

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Investigating Your Invisible Systems 16:20

3M ago16:20

16:20

This episode focuses again on the fundamental principle that your systems are perfectly designed for the outcomes you are experiencing, regardless of whether those systems were intentionally or accidentally created. Here are the key takeaways from the episode: Uncover how your systems, whether intentionally or accidentally designed, are perfectly c…

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Perfection Is Fragile, and You Should Avoid It 20:03

3M ago20:03

20:03

This episode discusses why perfection is a dangerous and fragile goal, explaining how striving for 100% leads to unsustainable outlier states. It highlights how setting perfection as a bar can cause commitments to break and plans to fail due to a lack of slack, and offers strategies like building redundancy and planning with slack to achieve goals …

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Your System is Perfectly Designed for Your Current Outcomes 18:14

3M ago18:14

18:14

This episode introduces the potentially controversial principle that your system is perfectly designed for its current outcomes, urging listeners to embrace greater responsibility for systemic issues. It explores how to redefine system boundaries to holistically integrate all influencing factors, like talent and organisational processes, ensuring t…

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Using LLMs To Expand Your Working Vocabulary 13:26

3M ago13:26

13:26

This episode explores the fundamental mindset of building your vocabulary, extending beyond literal words to conceptual understanding and mental models, and how Large Language Models (LLMs) can be a powerful tool for expanding and refining this crucial skill for career growth, clarity, and navigating disruptions. Uncover why building your vocabular…

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Great Reviews and Terrible Tacos - Sharpening Substitute Questions with Counterfactuals 23:28

4M ago23:28

23:28

This episode delves into the use of substitute questions—simpler queries we use to answer more complex ones—and the crucial concept of cohesion between these substitutes and our true objectives. You'll learn how to leverage counterfactual thinking to scrutinize your assumptions and enhance the effectiveness of your decisions. Discover two powerful …

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Why Maintenance Matters Now - Construal Level Theory, Marshmallows, and Hyperbolic Discounting 22:57

4M ago22:57

22:57

This episode explores why maintenance tasks, despite their fundamental importance, are often neglected or deprioritised in our daily lives and professional work. It delves into the psychological biases that make consistent maintenance challenging, such as hyperbolic discounting, where immediate gratification is valued over future gains, and the con…

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Follow This Principle - Establish Your Baselines 8:00

4M ago8:00

8:00

This episode introduces a profound yet simple principle: knowing your baselines. This concept is crucial for effectively detecting and measuring change in your life and career. Uncover the fundamental idea that to recognise when something has changed, you must first understand what things were like before the change occurred. Often, people haven't …

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Advice on Advice - Taking Everything with a Grain of Salt 13:54

5M ago13:54

13:54

This episode explores the complex landscape of receiving advice in your career, particularly during uncertain times. It offers insights on how to critically evaluate feedback and external information, prepare for potential negative outcomes outside of your control, and adapt your focus to thrive in a changing industry. Explore why the vast amount o…

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Career Advice for Surviving AI Outsourcing 13:09

5M ago13:09

13:09

This episode addresses the fear surrounding industry changes, such as AI and potential outsourcing, and offers actionable advice for engineers, managers, and leaders to navigate these challenges. You'll learn why shifting your focus from just developing skills to embracing ownership and responsibility is crucial for long-term career resilience and …

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Take Back Your Time - Volatility, Pliability, and Agency and Your Obligations.mp3 14:30

5M ago14:30

14:30

This episode provides tactical ways to own your time, reduce meeting load and obligations, and regain agency, especially when feeling burnt out. You'll learn how to use a simple two-part model focusing on Pliability and Volatility to evaluate your tasks and meetings and make intentional choices about how you spend your time. Learn how owning your t…

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Iteration or Target State Planning 15:29

6M ago15:29

15:29

This episode explores the dichotomy between iterative planning and target state planning in software development, discussing the benefits and drawbacks of each approach and providing decision factors to help you choose the most appropriate method for your situation. Understand the core difference between iterative planning, which emphasises agility…

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Three Principles of Preparedness - Mitigate Risks and Capitalize On Opportunities 15:02

6M ago15:02

15:02

This episode delves into practical principles for navigating the unexpected in your life and career. Rather than attempting to predict specific events, the focus is on cultivating resilience and optionality by identifying vulnerabilities in your systems and adopting a proactive mindset to transform potential challenges into strategic advantages. • …

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Did I Get That Right? - A High Leverage Habit that Requires Virtually Zero Skill 13:28

6M ago13:28

13:28

This episode introduces a simple yet highly effective communication habit that can be adopted by anyone to significantly reduce the risk of misunderstandings and enhance connection. It explores how this practice, which requires thoughtful communication but no special skills, can benefit individuals at all career levels. Discover why misunderstandin…

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Meta Models - Logarithmic Returns 12:08

6M ago12:08

12:08

This episode introduces a valuable meta-tool for understanding the generic shapes of models, focusing specifically on the concept of logarithmic relationships and how they manifest as diminishing returns in various aspects of our lives and work. Understanding these patterns can help us make more informed decisions about where to invest our time and…

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Dimensional Reframing - Think Along a New Axis 12:57

7M ago12:57

12:57

This episode introduces the concept of dimensional reframing as a tool to gain new perspectives on problems and facilitate decision-making by considering a new dimension. • Learn how adding a new dimension to a problem can overcome limited perception and lead to new insights. • Discover how applying the dimension of time to bug management can help …

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Chesterton's Fence - Why You Should Think Twice Before Rewriting That Project 8:50

7M ago8:50

8:50

This episode explores the concept of Chesterton's fence, a principle that advises against removing or altering something without first understanding its original purpose. • Understand the core message of Chesterton's fence: before getting rid of an existing system, process, or code, take the time to understand why it was put there in the first plac…

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Reframing Areas of Growth to Your Manager 11:50

7M ago11:50

11:50

This episode discusses how to reframe areas of growth identified in performance reviews with your manager, turning potential weaknesses into strategic strengths. It emphasizes focusing on excelling in your existing strengths rather than spreading efforts thinly across all areas of improvement. Understand why it's misguided to immediately convert a …

1
Owning and Requesting Forward-Framed Feedback 9:12

7M ago9:12

9:12

This episode provides a tactical question to elicit useful feedback by taking responsibility for seeking it out and framing the request in a way that encourages advice rather than judgment. Understand that your manager giving you feedback is your responsibility, which means you should actively seek it out rather than waiting. Discover how a simple …

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Work Modes Using Autonomy and Definition Clarity Quadrant - Manager Frameworks and Tools Series 16:06

7M ago16:06

16:06

This episode introduces a simple quadrant tool to visualise different working modes that a team or individual task might be in, based on levels of autonomy and definition. Understand how the quadrant is built using the X-axis of dependency (high to low) and the Y-axis of definition (high to low) to visualise different work modes. Explore how the bo…

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Manager Frameworks and Models - Product Lifecycle Governance 13:52

8M ago13:52

13:52

This episode introduces product lifecycle governance, offering practical techniques for engineering managers to tackle challenges like backlog prioritisation and leadership misunderstandings, helping turn potential problems into strategic advantages. Uncover how to use product lifecycle governance to expose vulnerabilities in your product developme…

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Philosophical Frameworks that Inform Your Decisions (Without You Even Knowing It) 24:51

8M ago24:51

24:51

This episode explores philosophical frameworks—ontology, teleology, and dynamism—to inform decision-making in uncertain situations, providing practical advice for applying these concepts in your professional and personal life. Understand how ontology, teleology, and dynamism can help you navigate conversations about future actions for teams, compan…

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How Can You Prepare for High-Impact Unknown Events? 25:26

8M ago25:26

25:26

This episode includes practical techniques to prepare for the unexpected by identifying vulnerabilities and building resilience, using the "curse question" and the "assumption audit" to help you turn potential problems into strategic advantages. • Uncover how to use a "curse question" to expose vulnerabilities you didn't know you had, by imagining …

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Misconceptions about Exceptions and Cultural Shifts - Invisible Inertia 23:37

8M ago23:37

23:37

In this episode, we discuss how invisible inertia can cause us to misinterpret our reality in work scenarios. • Discover why common misconceptions about behaviour are so difficult to spot. • Explore why your "unique" situation might be a common trap, a "uniqueness bias". • Learn how exceptional states can become the norm and impact your life. • Unc…

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Action Orientation and Making Faster Decisions 25:48

9M ago25:48

25:48

Time-crunched and data-scarce? Learn how the RPD model can leverage expertise and intuition to speed up decision-making, and how the 'Rubicon' moment can make your team more action-oriented. Stop endless planning and start doing: Learn how understanding action phases can help your team move faster from discussion to delivery. • Is your team stuck i…

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Match your Action to Intention - Pairing Five Whats with Five Whys 22:48

9M ago22:48

22:48

Use "What" to get more specific. Align actions with intentions for better time management. • Stop wasting time on autopilot. Discover the power of the Five Whats and start being intentional with your time. • Tired of vague labels? Ask yourself, "What am I actually doing?" to gain clarity over your activities. • Learn how to move beyond "focus time"…

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Upgrade Your Resolutions 18:08

9M ago18:08

18:08

In today's episode, we're focusing on taking your resolutions and making them matter. I will give you two challenges in this episode to improve the quality and potential of success for your resolutions. 🙏 Today's Episode is Brought To you by: Wix Studio Devs, if you think website builders mean limited control—think again. With Wix Studio’s develope…

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Ten Years of Developer Tea 8:40

9M ago8:40

8:40

Today, we celebrate 10 years of Developer Tea. I wouldn't be doing this podcast without you listening. Especially if you have been listening for many years, thank you! 📮 Ask a Question If you enjoyed this episode and would like me to discuss a question that you have on the show, drop it over at: developertea.com. 📮 Join the Discord If you want to b…

1
Better Low-Information Estimates - Putting the "Scientific" in SWAG 27:10

10M ago27:10

27:10

How can you create better scientific wild a** guesses when the work is not well defined? We discuss a few strategies in this episode. We also talk a bit about what an estimate is in the first place, and how it differs from a commitment / deadline. 🙏 Today's Episode is Brought To you by: Wix Studio Devs, if you think website builders mean limited co…

1
Agency - How The On Over In Model Can Help You Grow Your Career 13:11

10M ago13:11

13:11

Are you operating in the world, or are you working on a problem? This shift in agency can make all the difference in your career. 🙏 Today's Episode is Brought To you by: Wix Studio Devs, if you think website builders mean limited control—think again. With Wix Studio’s developer-first ecosystem you can spend less time on tedious tasks and more on th…

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Using ChatGPT for Career Experience Simulations - LLMs and Direct Simulations for Faster Career Experience Gains 31:24

10M ago31:24

31:24

Can you use ChatGPT to become a better engineer? I'm not just talking about learning a language or fixing a bug with ChatGPT providing advice... I'm talking about career simulations. In this episode we discuss how the airline industry has fixed the problem of experience, and how we can learn from their insights to create low-stakes learning environ…

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The Orphans Presents: Blood on the Clocktower 50:52

11M ago50:52

50:52

Welcome to our brand new podcast, Realms' Blood on the Clocktower! Listen to the first half of the first episode now, and then head over to the new podcast feed to check out the rest of this episode and the second episode! Storytellers: Emily Bates, Zack FG You can reference all of the roles in this version of the game on the script. Laura Girling:…

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Coaching Yourself: Career Coaching Personas for Everyday Engineers, Part Three - Shoulder Socrates 16:05

11M ago16:05

16:05

In today's episode we discuss the concept of adopting self-coaching personas, and discuss the third persona, "Shoulder Socrates." 🙏 Today's Episode is Brought To you by: Wix Studio Devs, if you think website builders mean limited control—think again. With Wix Studio’s developer-first ecosystem you can spend less time on tedious tasks and more on th…

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Coaching Yourself: Career Coaching Personas for Everyday Engineers, Part Two - The Overoptimizer 21:47

11M ago21:47

21:47

In today's episode we discuss the concept of adopting self-coaching personas, and discuss the second persona, the over-optimizer. 🙏 Today's Episode is Brought To you by: Wix Studio Devs, if you think website builders mean limited control—think again. With Wix Studio’s developer-first ecosystem you can spend less time on tedious tasks and more on th…

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Coaching Yourself: Career Coaching Personas for Everyday Engineers, Part One - The Available Manager 19:44

11M ago19:44

19:44

In today's episode we discuss the concept of adopting self-coaching personas, and discuss a critical first persona to start with. 🙏 Today's Episode is Brought To you by: Wix Studio Devs, if you think website builders mean limited control—think again. With Wix Studio’s developer-first ecosystem you can spend less time on tedious tasks and more on th…

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The Highest Leverage Work You Do - Footing the Ladder 15:27

12M ago15:27

15:27

High-leverage work often comes in the simplest form of helping another person with their efforts. 📮 Ask a Question If you enjoyed this episode and would like me to discuss a question that you have on the show, drop it over at: developertea.com. 📮 Join the Discord If you want to be a part of a supportive community of engineers (non-engineers welcome…

1
Prioritization is the Ultimate Skill 14:11

1y ago14:11

14:11

Learn to prioritize, and everything else falls into place. This is clarity through perspective and purpose. 📮 Ask a Question If you enjoyed this episode and would like me to discuss a question that you have on the show, drop it over at: developertea.com. 📮 Join the Discord If you want to be a part of a supportive community of engineers (non-enginee…

1
Career Growth Comes From Finding Low Hanging Fruit in the Gaps 8:41

1y ago8:41

8:41

Your career growth will be directly correlated to your ability to solve critical unsolved problems in the gaps of your organization's problems. Focus on finding the problems that have a high chance of success for you specifically - the low hanging fruit. 📮 Ask a Question If you enjoyed this episode and would like me to discuss a question that you h…