Backend Banter

The only podcast dedicated to backend development, technologies, and careers. Lane Wagner, the founder of Boot.dev, interviews successful backend engineers to get their takes on various trends, technologies, and career tips for new backend developers. Golang, Python, JavaScript, and Rust are the programming languages most commonly discussed, but speakers dabble in all sorts.

Backend Banter is a technology podcast hosted by Boot.dev, with 82 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Boot.dev hosts Backend Banter, a technology show with 82 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #12

  The Tools Are Smarter. Are You? ft. YK Sugi | S02 E12

  Mar 31, 20251h 8mS2

  <p>Today we welcome YK Sugi—engineer, educator, and the mind behind CSS Dojo—for the final episode of season two.</p><p><br></p><p>We talk about his journey from YouTube dev tutorials to building one of Sourcegraph’s most-used AI tools, and how the role of DevRel has changed (and in some cases, disappeared). YK also breaks down how senior engineers are actually using AI, why fundamentals still matter, and how Agent Chat was born during a company hackathon.</p><p><br></p><p>If you’re curious about AI devtools, the future of DevRel, or just want to...

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  Backend Banter

  How to Win at Learning ft. Quincy Larson | S02 E11

  Mar 24, 20251h 14mS0

  <p>In this episode, we sit down with Quincy Larson, founder of Free Code Camp, to explore his incredible path from high school dropout to influential tech educator. Quincy shares his unconventional journey — from living in his car and working fast food jobs to building one of the most impactful coding education platforms in the world.</p><p><br></p><p>We discuss the power of self-learning, the evolution of coding education, and the philosophy behind building meaningful skills. Quincy also dives into his productivity habits, structured routines, and why he prioritizes lifelong learning over traditional memories.</p><p><br></p>...

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  Backend Banter

  Mitchell Hashimoto: From Terraform to Ghostty | S02 E10

  Mar 17, 20251h 4mS0

  <p>Today we welcome Mitchell Hashimoto, co-founder of HashiCorp and creator of Ghostty, a new terminal emulator built in Zig. In this episode, Mitchell shares the story behind Ghostty, how his curiosity about terminals evolved into a full-fledged project, and why Zig became his language of choice.</p><p><br></p><p>We also dive into Ghostty’s unique features, the role of libghostty, and why Mitchell believes native-feeling apps are essential for developer experience. Plus, we explore his insights on computer science education, dynamic linking, and what really matters when learning to code.</p><p><br></p><p>If yo...

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  Episode #9

  Vercel’s Big AI Bet. ft. Malte Ubl | S02 E09

  Mar 10, 202548 minS2

  <p>Today we welcome Malte Ubl, CTO of Vercel, to discuss the evolution of frontend development and the role of AI in shaping modern engineering workflows. </p><p>Malte dives into V0, Vercel's innovative tool for generating frontend code using AI, and explains how it empowers developers—especially backend engineers—to build full-stack applications. </p><p>We also explore the concept of verticalization in engineering roles, the challenges of balancing innovation with infrastructure, and how AI is redefining productivity in tech.</p><br /><p>Learn back-end development - https://www.boot.dev</p><p>Listen on your favorite podcast player: http...

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  Episode #8

  Build skills, not degrees. ft. Madison Kanna | S02 E08

  Mar 3, 202554 minS2

  <p>Today we welcome Madison Kana—a self-taught dev who defied the traditional path. From dropping out and navigating a world of homeschooling to launching the Code Book Club, Madison transformed her unconventional journey into a thriving community of coders. In this episode, she shares how bypassing the typical education route fueled her passion, the real challenges of learning on your own, and the power of mentorship in building a dynamic tech career. If you’re ready to break the mold and carve your own path in software development.</p></br><p>Learn back-end development - https://www.boot.dev</p><p...

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