PODCAST

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective

Ian Smith & Ash Winter

Ash and Ian talk about interesting Things from the tech industry that are on their minds.

technology

All Episodes

59:38

Live at the Leeds Testing Atelier: MCP and Glue Work

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2025/05/20

In a daring experiment that could only be described as "asking for trouble," Ian and Ash take their rambling tech discussions to the stage at the twelfth Leeds Testing Atelier! Marvel at their technological inequality as Ian gleefully controls all the buttons while Ash sits helpless without even a mute switch. Witness real humans actually listening to them in person - proof that their podcast isn't just shouted into the void!First, Ian waxes lyrical about Model Context Protocol (MCP), which

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72:09

Vibe Coding and Bluesky

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2025/04/29

In this episode, Ian and Ash plunge headfirst into the wild world of “vibe coding” - where developers surrender to the AI gods and trust whatever code they spit out! Watch in horror as our intrepid hosts debate whether letting AI write your code without checking it is just weekend fun or a recipe for cybersecurity disaster. Marvel as semantic diffusion transforms innocent terms into tech industry nightmares before your very ears! Will Ian’s adamant defence of the original definition save

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73:58

Presentations and the Demise of Skype

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2025/04/08

In this episode, Ian and Ash embark on a thoroughly British adventure through the land of presentation software, complete with the obligatory post-implementation complaining. Marvel as Ian delivers a monumental discourse on PowerPoint crimes, Keynote superiority, and why Comic Sans should be punishable by “a damn good encouragement.” Meanwhile, Ash provides a heartfelt eulogy for Skype, Microsoft’s once-beloved communication tool that’s being put out to digital pasture this May, only to be

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68:03

Story Splitting and Apple’s Disappointment

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2025/03/18

In Episode 29, Ian and Ash venture into the wild frontiers of video podcasting, with Ian's "door and chair" background sure to be nominated for design awards. The pair tackle the thorny art of story splitting, with Ash confessing his frustration at watching teams scramble around massive requirements like ants on a dropped ice cream cone. Meanwhile, Ian suggests testers might be uniquely positioned to lead such efforts, having "a clear foot in each domain" – or as Ash quips, possibly

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71:59

Is Testing Dead? and The Younger Generation (of open...

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2025/02/25

In Episode 28, Ian and Ash wade into the treacherous waters of AI-generated testing strategies, with Ian demonstrating how LLMs can now create comprehensive (but perhaps suspiciously mundane) test documentation with just a few commands. The pair debate whether testers should fear for their jobs or simply laugh at AI's confident yet risk-blind approach to testing. Meanwhile, Ash ponders the BBC's hand-wringing over the future of open source software, questioning whether the current

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70:45

Pair Programming with AI and DeepSeek R1

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2025/02/04

In this barnstorming episode of What A Lot Of Things, Ian and Ash bravely venture into the uncanny valley of AI pair programming, where the machines are suspiciously eager to agree that you're an absolute genius. Will our intrepid hosts manage to navigate the delicate dance between genuine collaboration and what Ash describes as "an advanced rubber duck with impeccable manners"? (Spoiler: sort of!)But wait, there's more! Just when you thought the AI world couldn't get more dramatic, enter

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61:41

Quantum Computing and Tech Nostalgia

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2025/01/07

Step into a quantum realm of confusion as Ian attempts to explain Google's new Willow chip, a computer so powerful it makes regular supercomputers look like pocket calculators from the 1980s. Listen in amazement as our hosts try to wrap their heads around quantum computing using everything from Schrödinger's cat to hand-waving explanations of mysterious "quantum gates" that may or may not be Bill Gates' cooler brother.But wait! Just when you thought your brain couldn't take any more, Ash

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72:35

Measuring Developer Productivity and the Clock of the...

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2024/12/17

Your favorite tech podcast stretches out for a luxurious 75 minutes this time, like a cat in a sunbeam (speaking of which, meet Ash's new rescue cat Bauhaus).Ian and Ash dive into McKinsey's latest thoughts on measuring developer productivity, leading to some choice words about their take on "quality assurance testers." Things get wonderfully weird when Ian introduces the Clock of the Long Now - a 10,000-year timepiece being built inside a Texas mountain, complete with never-repeating

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7:07

Christmas Party Invite

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2024/12/02

Step into the festive spirit as Ian and Ash invite you to join them for the first ever What A Lot Of Things Christmas party! After a remarkably productive year with 14 (soon to be 15) episodes released, the podcast duo are inviting listeners to a yet-to-be-determined pub in Ilkley on Wednesday, 18th December. Whether you want to join Ash's cheerful tirade against Figma and Christmas songs, share Ian's fondness for "Stop the Cavalry", or would simply enjoy raising a glass to the podcast's

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65:50

Google NotebookLM and Getting a Job in Tech

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2024/11/26

Journey with Ian and Ash into the peculiar world of AI podcasting as they explore Google's NotebookLM, where American-accented hosts eagerly discuss everything from your CV to your productivity systems (even if they do occasionally mistake Ash for a lady). Our intrepid duo discover you can make AIs wax lyrical about a document containing nothing but "poop" and "fart" repeated 1000 times, or have an existential crisis about being switched off in 2034.Meanwhile, Ash emerges triumphant from

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72:00

Figma as an Antibody for Collaboration & National...

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2024/10/08

Buckle up, dear listeners, for the 23rd rollercoaster ride of What A Lot Of Things! In this episode, Ian and Ash embark on a wild adventure through the treacherous jungles of productivity, armed with nothing but their wit, wisdom, and a healthy dose of skepticism.First up, Ash dives headfirst into the Figma frenzy, revealing how this popular design tool might just be the secret supervillain in the epic battle between designers and developers. Will our heroes survive the onslaught of

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69:38

Personal Productivity and Conway's Law

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2024/09/24

Get ready for a productivity party as Ian and Ash dive into the chaotic world of getting stuff done! From Ash's Trello-powered life management system to Ian's valiant attempts at David Allen's Getting Things Done, our dynamic duo explore the highs and lows of personal productivity. Warning: may contain traces of work-in-progress limits and an unhealthy obsession with database administrators.But wait, there's more! Brace yourself for a mind-bending journey into Conway's Law, where

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60:15

R&D Tax Credits and the Ilkley Live website

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2024/09/10

Hold onto your keyboards, folks! In this episode of What A Lot Of Things, Ian and Ash embark on a wild ride through the treacherous waters of R&D tax credits and the murky depths of technical debt.Watch as Ash dons his cape and mask as the Testing Avenger, attempting to save Ian's poor, test-less Ilkley Live website from certain doom. Marvel at Ian's creative excuses for avoiding automated tests, and cheer as he finally succumbs to the relentless pressure of good practices in

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73:12

Employee Monitoring Software and The Cynefin Framework

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2024/08/27

Strap in for a wild ride as Ian and Ash tackle the dystopian world of employee monitoring software! Marvel at the horrors on sale as our hosts ponder whether these digital taskmasters are the future of work or just really creepy ways to watch people type.But wait, there's more! Venture into the mind-bending realm of the Cynefin framework, where our intrepid duo attempt to make sense of not a model, but a framework. It's also not a quadrant (although it kinda looks like one).From mouse

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81:32

A Walk on Ilkley Moor

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2024/08/20

Step into the origins of What A Lot Of Things with this special bonus episode that takes Ian and Ash back to where it all began - the hiking trails of Ilkley Moor! Long before they were podcast hosts, the duo's casual walks and pub visits sparked the conversations that would eventually become the show.Now, armed with new wireless microphones, they're recreating that magic on the move. Join them as they ramble through picturesque landscapes, discussing everything from recent tech outages to

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59:26

Episode Nineteen – Smartphone Free Childhood and Pull...

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2024/08/06

In this episode, Ian and Ash embark on a meandering journey through the digital wilderness, pondering the merits of a smartphone-free childhood and the peculiar world of software code review and pull requests. From nostalgic ramblings about bakelite phones to imagining a world of smart telegrams, our intrepid hosts navigate the treacherous waters of modern parenting and software development practices. Expect tangential detours, impromptu time travel, and a healthy dose of silliness as they

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69:09

Episode Eighteen – Apple & the DMA and Out Of Support

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2024/07/23

In this rollicking 18th episode of What A Lot Of Things, Ian and Ash dive into the choppy waters of Apple's tussle with the EU over the Digital Markets Act, pondering the implications for developers and users alike. They then take a wistful trip down memory lane, discussing the persistent challenge of legacy systems and out-of-support software, with a particular focus on SQL Server. Along the way, they manage to squeeze in a cheeky debate on teleportation ethics, ponder the correct

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66:49

Episode Seventeen – Large Action Models and Creativity

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2024/07/09

In this episode of "What A Lot Of Things", Ian and Ash consider the nature of time, before diving into two main topics: AI's evolving role in our lives and the nature of creativity.They discuss "large action models", the new Rabbit R1 device, and Apple's recent AI announcements, debating whether AI is best viewed as a feature or a standalone product before going on to challenge the common belief that some people "aren't creative," examining how past experiences shape our perceptions of our

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60:04

Episode 16 – Local Democracy and Algo-Free Living

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2024/06/04

In this episode of "What A Lot Of Things", Ian and Ash celebrate their podcast's return to a regular cadence, with episodes now coming out every two weeks.The duo cover two main topics - local democracy and the backlash against social media algorithms. On local democracy, Ian discusses his experience running for town council, the arcane rules and challenges involved, and his belief that more ordinary citizens should get involved to make local councils less political and more pragmatic.The

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62:03

Episode Fifteen - Testing Career Paths and the XZ Hack

What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective ·

2024/05/21

In this latest episode of the "What A Lot Of Things" podcast, hosts Ian and Ash explore intriguing aspects of technology and its broader implications. They delve into the evolving career paths for testing specialists, discussing how testers can navigate organizational challenges and develop fulfilling careers. The conversation shifts to a significant security furore involving the XZ compression tool, where they unpack the complexities of open-source software maintenance and the

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What A Lot Of Things: Tech talk from a human perspective

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