What if you could tap into a more affordable and efficient energy system, all while supporting grid stability? Tune in to our fascinating conversation with Robin Beer, energy data scientist at Flexa, a startup revolutionising the way we consume electricity.

Robin shares the process of creating a virtual power plant that enables consumers to utilise solar and battery resources while strategically managing when to buy and sell electricity based on market conditions and weather forecasts. Not only does this system promise reduced costs, but it also enhances grid stability, offering a win-win solution for consumers and the wider energy network.

Our discussion ventures into the intricate technology behind Flexa's virtual power plant, highlighting the essential role of Python and other tools in optimizing energy trading. We chat about the exciting startup atmosphere in Munich and the importance of cultivating a T-shaped skill set to thrive in this fast-paced environment.

Robin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-beer-7595b680/

Robin's X: https://x.com/R_E_Beer

Flexa: https://www.flexa.energy/

Pybites Circle Community: https://pybites.circle.so/

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If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!

For more Pybites:

Developer Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡

Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/

Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/

Bob BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bbelderbos.bsky.social

Julian BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/juliansequeira.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pybites/

Twitter: https://x.com/pybites

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1

This episode is a bit special. Julian is joined by one of his closest friends and former AWS colleagues, Huy Nguyen, to talk about something we often overlook in our careers and lives — the power of genuine human connection.

In 2024, Huy made an unusual choice. He chose to get off the hamster wheel and take a career break to focus the entire year on being present with friends and community. From a Big Fat Greek wedding in Greece to conversations on balconies in Vietnam, his travels weren’t about sightseeing. They were about belonging.

Together, Huy and Julian unpack what it takes to build a strong community over time. Huy shares two timeless principles that guide his approach: show up and be curious. You don’t need any plan or intention beyond these two things. Making time and being interested is enough. Messy is still effective if you show up with curiosity.

They also dig into:

• The quiet epidemic of disconnection, and what to do about it
  
  
• Why texting someone you haven’t spoken to in years is never as weird as you think
  
  
• How connection can be one of the most overlooked forms of self-care
  
  
• Why moments of “I was just thinking about you” matter more than you realize

This episode is warm, honest, and full of the kind of reflections that tend to stick with you. If you've been meaning to reconnect with someone — consider this your invitation.

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Huy Nguyen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/huywin/

Saving Five (by Amanda Nguyen): https://pybitesbooks.com/books/dCMFEQAAQBAJ

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💡🧑‍💻Level up your Python skills in just 6 weeks with our hands-on, mentor-led cohort program. Build and ship real apps while gaining confidence and accountability in a supportive community. Join an upcoming Pybites Developer Cohort today! 🌟✅

___

If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!

For more Pybites:

Pybites Books: https://pybitesbooks.com/

Developer Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡

Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/

Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/

Bob BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bbelderbos.bsky.social

Julian BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/juliansequeira.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pybites/

Twitter: https://x.com/pybites

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1

In this episode, Andrea Gosselink, career coach and former HR executive, joins us to unpack the complicated feelings that arise when we find ourselves at a career crossroad. Drawing from both her personal journey and client experiences, Andrea shares why so many successful people still feel unfulfilled despite achieving traditional markers of career success.

We explore the fascinating psychology behind career transitions, including the paralyzing effect of the sunk cost fallacy ("I've already invested so much in this path"), fear of judgment from peers and family, and the limiting belief that there's only one "right" way to progress professionally. Andrea shares actionable frameworks to help evaluate whether a career change is right for you.

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Andrea Gosselink

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-gosselink-cpc-8919027

Website: https://careerlinkcoach.com/

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💡🧑‍💻Level up your Python skills in just 6 weeks with our hands-on, mentor-led cohort program. Build and ship real apps while gaining confidence and accountability in a supportive community. Join an upcoming Pybites Developer Cohort today! 🌟✅

___

If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!

For more Pybites:

Pybites Books: https://pybitesbooks.com/

Developer Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡

Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/

Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/

Bob BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bbelderbos.bsky.social

Julian BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/juliansequeira.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pybites/

Twitter: https://x.com/pybites

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1

The tech job market has become increasingly challenging with ongoing layoffs and strong competition for available positions. How can developers stand out when everyone seems to have the same credentials?

This episode tackles the essential strategies needed to navigate this difficult landscape. We discuss how imperfect positions can still offer growth, and how enthusiasm, coupled with demonstrated skill, can help employers pick you as a candidate who will bring true value to their organisation.

Join our community at pybites.circle.so to continue the conversation, expand your network, and access more resources to advance your Python career journey!

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Level up your Python skills in just 6 weeks with our hands-on, mentor-led cohort program. Build and ship real apps while gaining confidence and accountability in a supportive community. Join an upcoming Pybites Developer Cohort today!

Carlton Gibson's article: https://buttondown.com/carlton/archive/if-i-were-starting-out-now/

___

If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!

For more Pybites:

Pybites Books: https://pybitesbooks.com/

Developer Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡

Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/

Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/

Bob BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bbelderbos.bsky.social

Julian BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/juliansequeira.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pybites/

Twitter: https://x.com/pybites

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1

Rye Whalen sees profound connections between nature and software development that many developers miss. With expertise in hardware, software, and teaching cybersecurity, they uncover how natural systems can inspire better software-building strategies.

Rye explains how they approach algorithmic thinking by focusing on foundational base cases and how they encourage their students to visualise problems before writing code. This teaching strategy bridges abstract concepts with practical understanding by tapping into natural visual processing abilities and familiar patterns from the world around us.

Beyond technical skills, Rye emphasises the value of creativity and balance. They explain how engaging in activities like photography and music can nurture problem-solving skills and significantly enhance our ability as developers.

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Contact Rye on our Circle Community: https://pybites.circle.so/u/5eb35e0b

Rye Whalen - https://wentcloud.com/

___

If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!

For more Pybites:

Pybites Books: https://pybitesbooks.com/

Developer Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡

Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/

Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/

Bob BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bbelderbos.bsky.social

Julian BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/juliansequeira.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pybites/

Twitter: https://x.com/pybites

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1

PyBytes is taking an exciting step forward with the introduction of cohort-based Python coaching, creating an accessible learning pathway for developers worldwide. After five successful years working with over 200 clients through 1:1 coaching, this new model provides opportunities for collaboration, networking, and group problem solving - skills that translate directly to professional development environments.

Beyond coaching, we're partnering with "Explore With Us" to give university students across Australia a 50% discount on the PyBytes platform, and we've also completely revamped PyBytes Books - with a sleek new interface, custom reading lists, and gamification elements.

With so many opportunities to learn and explore, we invite you to join our Pybites community, where we celebrate the power of developing together.

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Interested in our new Cohort Coaching? Check it out here: https://pybitescoaching.com/

Explore with Us: https://jobs.explorewithus.com.au/pybites/

Pybites Books: https://pybitesbooks.com/

Pybites guest articles: https://pybit.es/articles/

Julian's post on "vibe coding": https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7310433075216162817/

__

If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!

For more Pybites:

Developer Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡

Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/

Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/

Bob BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bbelderbos.bsky.social

Julian BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/juliansequeira.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pybites/

Twitter: https://x.com/pybites

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1

The road to landing a dream developer job is often paved with persistence, continuous learning, and a willingness to look beyond traditional tech hubs. In this episode, CJ Stein shares his journey from mechanical engineer to software developer at a cheese manufacturing company.

Throughout our conversation we're reminded that developer jobs exist everywhere – not just at tech giants and startups. By expanding where you look and having confidence in your ability to learn, you might just find your perfect role in the most unexpected place.

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Pybites Circle Community: https://pybites.circle.so/

CJ's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steincj/

___

If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!

For more Pybites:

Developer Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡

Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/

Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/

Bob BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bbelderbos.bsky.social

Julian BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/juliansequeira.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pybites/

Twitter: https://x.com/pybites

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world of coding, raising vital questions about our approach to software development. In this episode, we unpack the implications of AI on programming skills and the future of learning to code.

As AI increasingly handles various programming tasks, some developers are concerned that new, and even seasoned, coders may be losing touch with critical programming skills. While AI offers opportunities to streamline processes, we highlight the necessity of engaging with coding on a fundamental level.

Throughout the episode, we celebrate successes from our coding community, and highlight that while the journey can be challenging, determination and a positive mindset can ultimately lead to career success.

Article discussed: AI is Creating a Generation of Illiterate Programmers

Pybites Circle Community: https://pybites.circle.so/

Pybites Community Events: https://pybites.circle.so/c/community-events

Books mentioned:

Nexus - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/n4rvEAAAQBAJ

FastAPI Cookbook - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/H6oSEQAAQBAJ

___

If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!

For more Pybites:

Developer Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡

Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/

Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/

Bob BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bbelderbos.bsky.social

Julian BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/juliansequeira.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pybites/

Twitter: https://x.com/pybites

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1