Kent chats with Andre Landgraf about his journey as a web developer, his passion for community building, and his upcoming talk at Epic Web Conf on image optimization. Andre shares insights from organizing All Things Web, a Bay Area meetup that fosters discussions on modern web development. They also discuss his experiences at LinkedIn, his love for Remix, and the lessons learned from building a custom image optimization pipeline. Andre’s talk will dive into the trade-offs of using third-party services versus rolling your own solution, helping developers understand the fundamentals of image optimization and why it’s worth exploring.

Kent C. Dodds says goodbye for this season of the Chats with Kent podcast. It's all about the speakers at Epic Web Conf 2025.

In this episode, Jason Lengstorf flips the script and interviews Kent C. Dodds about his upcoming talk at Epic Web Conf. Kent shares insights into the decision-making framework behind the Epic Stack and why strong principles matter more than specific tech choices. He explores the importance of making decisions that scale with complexity, avoiding analysis paralysis, and embracing simplicity in software architecture. Beyond the talk, Kent and Jason discuss the value of in-person conferences, how they impact careers, and why human connection remains irreplaceable in an AI-driven world.

Jason Lengstorf joins Kent to talk about his journey in web development, from his early days in agencies to his work at IBM, Gatsby, and Netlify, and now his latest project, CodeTV. He shares insights into the Web Dev Challenge, a fast-paced, high-energy developer show where participants race against the clock to build projects from scratch. Jason will be bringing the Web Dev Challenge to Epic Web Conf, along with an open hackathon for attendees to participate in. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of networking, building authentic relationships, and taking strategic risks in your career. With years of experience in developer relations, open-source contributions, and building community-driven projects, Jason offers practical advice for developers at any stage of their journey.

Kent and Ryan Florence dive into the current state and future of Remix, the evolution of React Router, and the web platform’s growing role in modern web development. Ryan reflects on the changes in the ecosystem, the impact of AI, React Server Components, and the move towards standardized web APIs. He also shares insights on his shifting focus, the importance of in-person conferences, and how community-driven relationships have shaped his career. This conversation is packed with candid thoughts, deep technical insights, and a look at what’s next for web developers.

Kent sits down with Annie Sexton to explore the fascinating history of JavaScript. Annie, known for her engaging educational content, shares why understanding the origins of the language is essential to fully appreciating its present and future. She discusses how JavaScript evolved from a rushed project in the '90s into the dominant force shaping modern web development. Along the way, they touch on competing technologies, key moments in its adoption, and why preserving the history of software is just as important as innovating for the future. With her signature storytelling style, Annie promises an entertaining and insightful journey through JavaScript’s past.

Kent chats with Zackary Jackson, an infrastructure architect at ByteDance, about solving large-scale web infrastructure challenges. Zackary shares insights on building RSPack, a Rust-based bundler, and Module Federation, which enables seamless orchestration of distributed applications. They discuss how these technologies help companies like ByteDance scale efficiently, reducing build times, improving product velocity, and solving organizational friction. Zackary also teases exciting advancements in AI-driven development tools and shares why in-person connections at conferences are invaluable.

Kent chats with Aaron Francis about the power of resilience, adaptability, and taking calculated risks in your career. Aaron shares his journey from accounting to software development, navigating multiple career pivots, and ultimately betting on himself to start his own company. Drawing from his personal experience with job loss and reinvention, he offers practical advice on making yourself less fragile in an uncertain industry. This conversation is packed with insights on skill stacking, career resilience, and maintaining a work ethic that prioritizes both personal and professional fulfillment.

Kent sits down with Fran Zekan, an engineer with a diverse background spanning hardware, robotics, and full-stack web development. Fran shares insights from his experience working with both JavaScript and Rails and discusses how React Server Components (RSCs) are enabling fully encapsulated full-stack components—something that Rails developers have enjoyed for years. They dive into the evolution of full-stack components, their impact on web development, and why Fran is excited to share this topic at Epic Web Conf.

Kent sits down with Josh Cirre, a developer advocate, content creator, and former stage performer, to discuss his talk at Epic Web Conf: "Learning-Driven Development." Josh shares his unique approach to learning by building real-world projects, the importance of curiosity in the learning process, and how he transitioned from acting and comedy to the tech industry. They also chat about the value of in-person conferences, the crossover between theater and development, and why understanding how you learn is just as important as what you learn.

Kent chats with Kira Corbett, a developer educator with a background in robotics, simulation, and artificial intelligence. They discuss her journey from robotics to web development, her passion for human-computer interaction, and her upcoming talk at Epic WebConf: "Building an AI Assistant to Deliver Your Best Presentations." Kira teases an interactive session where attendees will see AI in action, learn how to optimize their workflows, and explore new ways to improve communication. She also shares insights on why conferences are invaluable for gaining fresh perspectives and making meaningful connections.

In this episode, Kent chats with Taylor Desseyn, VP of Global Development at Torque.dev and an experienced conference emcee, about the power of networking, career development, and making meaningful connections at events like Epic WebConf. Taylor shares insights from his years in the talent and tech space, his passion for helping developers land their dream jobs, and why in-person events are game-changers for career growth. They also discuss his role as an emcee and how he brings energy, humor, and connection to every conference he’s part of.

In this episode, Kent chats with Mark Techson, a developer advocate at Google working on Angular, about the evolving role of developers in the AI era. Mark previews his Epic WebConf talk, "Beyond Code Assist: Driving Impact as a Next-Gen Developer," where he challenges developers to rethink their workflows, leverage AI to do more, and embrace the future of software development. They also discuss the value of in-person conferences, professional growth, and how small efforts—like Mark’s creative talk proposal—can make a big impact.

In this episode, Shruti Kapoor, frontend engineer, educator, and accessibility advocate, joins Kent to discuss the nuances of building accessible web applications from the ground up. She shares insights from her work at Slack’s design systems team and previews her Epic WebConf talk, where she will demonstrate how to build an accessible real estate app, test it with screen readers, and fix common accessibility pitfalls. They also discuss the importance of fostering inclusive digital experiences and why in-person conferences like Epic WebConf are invaluable for professional growth and networking.

In this episode, Eva Ferreira, frontend expert and design systems advocate, joins Kent to explore why design systems fail and how to build them for long-term success. She previews her Epic WebConf talk, "Bulletproof Design Systems," where she breaks down the common pitfalls, best practices for adoption, and how to ensure a design system thrives in an engineering organization. They also discuss the importance of learning from failures, fostering collaboration, and the unique value of in-person conferences.

In this episode, Eve Porcello, seasoned educator and AI enthusiast, joins Kent to explore how AI can enhance presentation skills. Eve previews her Epic WebConf talk, "Building an AI Assistant to Deliver Your Best Presentations," where she and her co-speaker Kira Corbett dive into the intersection of AI, communication, and accessibility. They discuss the importance of effective presentation skills for developers, how AI can support and enhance communication, and why in-person interactions at conferences are irreplaceable.

In this episode, Jared Forsyth, a long-time Khan Academy engineer and functional programming enthusiast, joins Kent to explore the fascinating world of type inference. Jared previews his Epic WebConf talk, "Hindley and Milner Walk Into a Bar," where he dives into the mechanics of type inference algorithms and their impact on modern programming languages. They discuss the importance of understanding the fundamentals of language design, why type inference matters, and how getting comfortable with these concepts can make developers more effective.

In this episode, Madison Kanna, a full-stack developer, community builder, and returning Epic WebConf speaker, joins Kent to discuss the power of learning out loud. Madison shares her journey of building an authentic personal brand, the value of community, and how creating and sharing your work can lead to unique career opportunities. She also previews her talk, “Why You Should Learn Out Loud in 2025,” which emphasizes the importance of differentiating yourself in the age of AI through authenticity and personal branding.

Leah Thompson, a career switcher turned software engineer, joins Kent to discuss how live streaming on Twitch can be a powerful tool for networking and career growth. Leah shares her journey from high school math teacher to software developer, emphasizing how streaming helped her land both of her developer roles. They explore how Twitch can foster meaningful connections, build a personal brand, and combat isolation in remote work.

Dax Raad, creator of OpenAuth and core contributor to SST, joins Kent to discuss his approach to simplifying authentication with a self-owned, spec-compliant auth server. Dax explains the motivation behind OpenAuth, why AWS Cognito falls short, and how OpenAuth empowers developers to control their own authentication infrastructure while reducing complexity.