Published 14 Feb 2026
Duration: 3649
The podcast explores the creation of **Nonsense Monthly**, a physical programming newsletter covering diverse topics from software development to risk management and intentional design.
In this episode I talk with Brad Taylor about his journey as a fractional CTO and advisor for various companies. We discuss his experience with open s...
The podcast focuses on the development and philosophy behind Nonsense Monthly, a physical programming newsletter that provides a more thoughtful and engaging reading experience compared to digital alternatives. The content spans both programming and non-programming subjects, including software development practices, domain modeling, and the significance of planning and teamwork. The discussion also addresses the complexities of commercializing health technology, stressing the challenges of building robust medical software systems and the importance of a solid business foundation.
Other key topics include the metaphorical explanation of technical debt using concepts like entropy and blades, highlighting the need for deliberate design and clear separation between safe and risky decisions in development. The podcast emphasizes the role of storytelling in programming, portraying code as a form of narrative that demands clarity and shared understanding among team members. It also explores broader themes such as risk management, the value of learning from past failures, and the necessity for engineers to grasp the underlying reasons behind their work in order to make more informed and thoughtful decisions.
16 Jun 2026 322 - Joe Masilotti
AI transforms developer and consulting roles by commoditizing coding, pushing focus toward strategic guidance and app optimization, while challenging solo founders and consultants to adapt beyond code delivery, highlighting AI's strengths in execution over design and the growing need for human-centric, opinionated content and personal branding.
3 Jun 2026 321 - Uncle Bob Martin
Explores software modeling complexities, AI's reliance on statistical prediction versus explanatory knowledge, the balance of elegance and accuracy, abstraction's role in managing entropy and disorder, and the evolution of programming principles like test-driven development and object-oriented design.
23 May 2026 320 - John Nunemaker of Fireside.fm, Box Out Sports and Very Good Software
A seasoned Ruby developer discusses his work on Flipper Cloud and acquired Fireside.fm, focusing on growth strategies, automation tools like Flow, podcasting trends, community-driven decisions, AI/automation's role, and prioritizing simplicity and efficiency in software development.
27 Apr 2026 319 - Kellen Presley of Rhizome Compliance
Covers physical programming's tactile appeal, career shifts from engineering to compliance, AI in fraud detection, minimalism in code, community learning, and AI's impact on fintech and education.
9 Apr 2026 318 - Adam Dawkins, CTO of Dragon Drop
Scaling Ruby on Rails projects faces challenges from rigid conventions that hinder flexibility, requiring intentional architecture, refactoring, and modular design to counter pitfalls like short-term solutions, poor testing, and overreliance on inheritance, while promoting collaboration through shared terminology and practical strategies.