The path to a tech career often seems linear and technical, Bekah Hawrot Weigel's story stands out as a beacon of hope and inspiration. On the "Mycelium Network" podcast, Bekah, a former college English teacher turned developer and community builder, shares her remarkable journey of personal and professional transformation. NOTE: Bekah’s audio had …

NOTE: It has always been the goal of this podcast to give everyone a chance to share their story. This episode is an example of this. We tried to record this live using Riverside.fm (no blame to Riverside here 😃) but after many tries we realized that Precious’s internet was just not going to play along. We improvised and did the recordings asynchro…

In a world where design transcends mere aesthetics to become a pivotal element in user experience and product functionality, the journey of Nmesoma Okonkwo emerges as a beacon of inspiration and a testament to the transformative power of mentorship in the tech industry. Born out of a transition from microbiology to graphic design, and eventually to…

In the latest episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, Kate Blake shares her inspiring journey into the world of web development. Host Schalk Neethling guides us through Kate's narrative, from her initial fascination with technology to her current role as a successful web developer. Kate's story is not just about personal achievement; it's a testam…

In this episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, I speak with Temitope Asama to learn about her tech journey, highlighting her initial interests and challenges. Her active involvement in the CHAOSS community underscores the importance of supportive networks in fostering growth. Additionally, Temitope's advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion …

In this episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, Dan Moore shares his extensive journey in the tech industry, starting in the '90s to his current role as a solutions architect at FusionAuth. He emphasized the critical balance between technical proficiency and soft skills in software development. Dan discusses the value of community involvement, par…

In this engaging episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, host Schalk Neethling welcomes Elena Lape, the visionary founder of Holopin. Elena shares her remarkable journey through the tech world, from building developer communities and supporting students at GitHub to her passion for hackathons. She delves into the value of open-source contributions…

In this episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, host Schalk Neethling is joined by Grecia Castaldi and Molly Devine from Women Who Code. These two dynamic women share their inspiring journeys in the tech world and non-profits, emphasizing the significance of diversity and empowerment in the industry. The discussion touches on vital topics like adv…

In this episode of the Mycelium Network Podcast, Chad Stewart, a software engineer from Kingston, Jamaica, shares his journey in the tech industry. Chad discusses his work in front-end engineering and his exploration of back-end engineering. He also talks about his role in TechIsHiring, an organization that helps people find job opportunities in th…

This week, the guest on the podcast is Vicky (VM) Brasseur. She has over 30 years of experience in the world of open source and is currently helping large companies with their open source strategies. She has written the book, “Forge your future with Open Source” and is currently writing her second book. During the episode, we touch on topics such a…

In this episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, Schalk Neethling interviews Alex Buaiscia, a full-stack developer at Moravio. Alex talks about his journey from humanistic studies and journalism to desktop support and becoming a full-stack developer. Alex emphasizes the importance of persistence, getting feedback after an interview, and soft skills…

In this episode of The Mycelium Network podcast, host Schalk Neethling sits down with Leo Cheng, a former editor in the film and TV industry who has been teaching himself to code and is ready to make programming his career. Schalk and Leo touch on various topics, such as learning through making, the importance of onboarding and mentoring new develo…

In this episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, host Schalk Neethling speaks with Bri Leever, a brand community strategist and owner of Ember consulting. Bri emphasizes the importance of building a community-led approach to problem-solving and the importance of patience and nurturing the seeds of your community instead of trying to be the one with…

This week I am doing some cross-promotion of my other podcast, the Mechanical Ink podcast. If you enjoy this episode, you can subscribe to the show here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mechanical-ink -- In this episode of the Mechanical Ink podcast, Schalk is joined by Abby and Naytri from GitHub. In this enlightening and far-reaching conv…

Ankita Kulkarni, an educator and founder joined the Mycelium Network podcast to discuss her passion for helping people and making a difference. She shared insights on leadership, work-life balance, psychological safety, and the importance of a beginner's mindset. The episode delved into what makes a good leader, the joy of learning, and tips for th…

In this episode, we talk to Ryan Stemmle, who shares his winding and adventurous journey into the tech world. He tells us about how he learned to code at Turing and how his experience in special operations helped him develop the necessary mindset. Ryan also talks about the challenge of adapting to new work culture and working in a more diverse work…

In this episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, we hear from Precious Adeyinka, a developer from Nigeria. He shares his story of how he went from learning to code on paper to building a startup in Africa. Precious also talks about his passion for teaching others, giving back, and using dancing as a form of expression. He explains why Africa is the…

In this episode, I have a conversation with my dear friend, Matt Brandt. We talk about the tech industry, but this conversation is about much more. We talk about all those things that often fall by the wayside but are critical to having a career that is fulfilling and bring you joy. We also discuss effective interviews and aligning your work with w…

In this episode of the Mycelium Network, I speak with Andres Sepulveda Morales. We talk mead brewing, Dungeons and Dragons, and draw parallels between being a game master and working on a team, forming a community around shared interests, and the knowledge sharing that happens as a result. We also address some tough topics such as implicit and expl…

In this episode, I speak with Matthew A. Grande from Careerage. We discuss career advice, the importance of aligning with personal goals and values, inflection points, and finding fulfillment in work and life. We also touch upon the idea that individuals are not problems to be fixed and the importance of starting from a place of curiosity. The topi…

Today I speak with Ryan Johnson, a backend engineer, Python wizard, and someone with an incredible story to tell. From working in hardware startups, working as a farmhand in a Benedictine monastery, practicing psychologist, working at Lucas film, and now at Mozilla. What is artificial intelligence? Lucas Film Quantum Computing Expert Explains One C…

In the first episode of season 2, I speak with Juan Pablo Flores, the program manager for GitHub Education. We talk about GitHub classroom and the problems it solves for students and teachers. Using GitHub skills to learn and teach how to use Git and GitHub. The importance of being able to work on a team and collaborate on a cross-functional team. …

In this final episode of season 1, I speak with technical writer and legend of the web, Chris Mills. We talk about trying something new, not being scared to take a leap of faith, and finding your tribe. The importance of being positive and kind, treating people with respect and empathy, and giving back through mentorship. We talk about the importan…

In this week's episode, I speak with Vuyisile Ndlovu, a Python developer and AWS-certified cloud practitioner from Zimbabwe. We talk about open-source, the challenges developers face in Africa, and why contributions to open-source are low in Africa and brainstorm ideas to improve it. Vuyisile also shares some great tips on deploying your ideas to t…

In this episode, I sit down with Andy Anderson. This conversation was so wonderful. Andy has years of experience in the tech industry and shares some of the histories that very few of us know about. We also discuss the evolution of programming languages and tools, the importance of community, diversity, and coffee. Social The Mycelium Network Disco…

In this episode with Chelsea Adams, we talk about dealing with imposter syndrome and the sense of un-belonging. Being kind to yourself and giving yourself the time to grow. Not to be afraid of being vulnerable, stop getting in your own way, and the negative impact of social networks on creativity. We also touch on the importance of community, a net…

A talk about kindness, open-source, TypeScript, advice for those new to web development, and finding treasures in unique places. Vinyl, in her own words (Pronounced V-eye-null Dah-ee-ghee-you Kah-zoh-teh-tsoo) Formerly Vinyl Darkscratch-Kazotetsu. Web and software developer, EDM visualizer animator, Beat Saber fanatic, workaholic, left-handed, quee…

In today's episode, I speak with Tara Robertson. We discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion topics, but the conversation is about so much more. We deeply dive into the soft skills needed to thrive in the workplace and life. It is a far-reaching, emotional, and real conversation I believe you will all enjoy. Tara, in her own words I help women of c…

In today's episode, I speak with Joel Rainwater. Among the many topics we address, we cover the IndieWeb, the necessity for curiosity in the tech industry, working in the open, intentionally being un-hireable, and not being defined by job titles. We touch on the doors opened by the fact that JavaScript is everywhere. On ramping to TypeScript, the p…

In this episode, I speak with Alvin Bryan, a developer advocate at Contentful. We discuss the role of open-source in education, ethical tech, mentoring, the new challenges early-stage developer face in a changing job market, and how to stay motivated. Alvin, in their own words Alvin is a developer advocate at Contentful and a front-end developer. H…

In today's conversation, I speak with Raphael Pires. In this conversation, we talk less about technology and more about life. While we touch on tech-related topics, we also talk about living a life of purpose. We share our thoughts on unrealistic expectations, planning long-term, setting goals, and being willing to wait for success. It is a deep co…

Adilson Sandoval's journey from being a mathematics teacher to becoming a self-taught web developer is a testament to perseverance and adaptability. Driven by the desire for remote work opportunities and higher income, he embarked on a path of self-learning, leveraging free online resources like MDN and JavaScript.info to acquire coding skills. The…

In this engaging episode of "The Mycelium Network Podcast," host Schalk Neethling sits down with Andrew MacLean, a passionate educator from British Columbia, Canada, who has dedicated his career to exploring and teaching technology. Andrew shares his journey from his first job building a website to his current role as a community manager for Battle…

In this enriching conversation on the Mycelium Network podcast, Pamela Rodriguez and Schalk Neethling explore the intersections of technology, diversity, and mentorship with depth and nuance. Pamela shares her journey into the tech world, highlighting the barriers she faced as a woman and how she overcame them through resilience, networking, and sk…

In this episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, host Schalk Neethling speaks with guest Schalk Venter in a wide-ranging discussion about the tech industry. SchalkV shares his unique journey into tech, highlighting the role of community learning and self-teaching over formal education. They delve into how technology can be leveraged for social good…

In this episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, host Schalk Neethling engages in a riveting conversation with Peter Bengtsson, a seasoned web developer with over 25 years of experience. Peter shares anecdotes from his early forays into web development, including a playful yet controversial webpage created during his teenage years. His journey span…

In this engaging episode of the Mycelium Network podcast, host Schalk Neethling invites Sharone Zitman, a prominent figure in the world of developer relations, to share her insights and experiences. The conversation orbits around the dynamic and evolving landscape of developer tools, highlighting the challenges and breakthroughs in this sector. Sha…

In our fourth episode, we talk to Soham Shah. Soham works at Marvin, a user research platform that elevates the voice of customers. Soham is also very active in the open source world. He has contributed to ChakraUI, MDN Web Docs, and is the co-creator of mockBee and Mockman. We talk about the challenges of the interview process, the importance of c…

In this episode of "The Mycelium Network Podcast," host Schalk Neethling speaks with Isabel Calabig, also known as Izaye Visuals, about her unique journey into the tech industry. Isabel shares her transition from a background in marketing to EdTech during the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasizes the crucial role of community support in her learning pr…

In our first episode, we talk to Rico Smit—an early-stage web developer living and working in Pretoria, South Africa. We discuss various topics, from the challenges faced by new learners, starting a business, finding learning material, and the importance of community. We also touch on contributing to open-source and feeling more comfortable interac…

Geno Okok is a local artist that does artwork all around the twin cities (Minnesota) and specializes in murals. Over the last year he has completed several projects including public murals for cities, schools and businesses, the state fair and a plethora of other private pieces. You can check out some of his amazing work by following him on Instagr…

This episode features Lorilee Binstock of the Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcast. We discuss both her personal experiences and work in the psychedelic assisted therapy space as well as how it relates to her podcast. Before diving into that, we discuss her background and what led her to therapy and psychedelics in particular. Also discussed is her wo…

In this episode, I talk with Jesse Rennicke of Luck, Wisconsin. We discuss his ongoing endeavors with BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) & the long history his family has with MMA, his journey of lifelong learning from physics to medicine and studying abroad, what it's like being a young conservative in today's day and much more. Originally from Comstock, W…

The Illuminating Mycelium Podcast is all about everyday people. We share their stories and we learn from them. We speak with folks just like you: entrepreneurs, photographers, artists, musicians, teachers/educators, active community members, fathers, mothers and so on. Instead of giving you another mouthpiece about how some famous movie actor is st…

Kara Boyer is a registered nurse, holistic health coach and host of the Stress Free Living podcast. Her faith helps guide her in her everyday life to live better. You can follow Kara's work further via the links below: Facebook Page Spotify Coffee! If you enjoy coffee and regional craft roasts from small businesses in the heart of the Appalachia so…

*This episode contains adult themes and languages Bishop is a musician and actor based in Atlanta, Georgia. We discuss his work in music & acting and much more. I highly recommend his music and have included his links below including my favorite song of his: My favorite song Follow Everything is Connected (Bishop) on Soundcloud Follow him on Instag…

*This episode contains adult themes and languages Jace Wolffenstreitz is an attendant at a local billiard hall and fierce mental health advocate. Weird combination right? Anyways, we dive into his background as he reveals to us his most despised city growing up ^_^ Then we touch back and forth on a few different topics (apologies in advance, we bot…

Rita is originally from La Crescent and now a long-time resident of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. We'll be discussing her life growing up on a farm with 7 other siblings, being a descendent of John Samuel Harris, the importance of mental health & advocacy, her involvement in NAMI and much more. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)- If you are s…

Ellese operates her own black-owned business known as Ellese Electric Endeavors. We discuss her work with this as well as her own personal and spiritual transformation and how these all intertwine. Get ready for some wokeness! We cover it all: identity, ancient Kemet, history, alkaline, veganism, spirituality and much more. Be sure to check out her…

In this episode, we sit down with coach bus driver Gerry Loos of Janesville, Wisconsin. We discuss his experiences on the road, what it's been like living in various states throughout the Midwest, his work with the Salvation Army and more! Coffee! If you enjoy coffee and regional craft roasts from small businesses in the heart of the Appalachia sou…