Welcome back to Deadlines & Detours, the podcast where we talk to the humans behind digital transformation — the thinkers, tinkerers, and tech obsessives shaping the products we all use.
In this episode, Matt Barrington-Packer sits down with Andy Farmer, Co-Founder of MyOxygen — a Bristol-based digital product studio that’s been building apps since the dawn of the iPhone. Andy’s team has created mobile solutions for the NHS, Ministry of Defence, and the energy sector, helping organisations design, build, and scale products that genuinely make a difference.
Together they dive into:
🧩 The evolution of mobile apps — from PalmPilots to iPhones
⚙️ Why “beautiful code” matters as much as beautiful design
💡 How AI is the ultimate “yes person”… and why that’s risky
🧘♂️ The spirituality of motorbikes and why detours matter
🔐 How to innovate inside regulated industries (NHS, MOD, Energy)
☕️ Why every project still needs people, process, and a good cup of coffee
Andy shares the story behind MyOxygen’s early NHS projects, the SAM App that supported student mental health, and the hard-won lessons from decades of building software the right way — focusing on purpose, process, and human connection.
This is one for designers, developers, founders, and digital leaders who believe tech should have heart.
🎧 Listen. Think. Detour.