Frontmatter: The Leanpub Author Stories Podcast

Joe Justice - In this episode of the Leanpub podcast, Len Epp interviews Joe Justice, author of Scrum Master: The Agile Training Seminar for Business Performance, former Tesla employee, and creator of #JoeDX—a methodology based on the business practices, culture, and operating model of Elon Musk’s companies. Joe shares his inspiring journey from growing up in South Bend, Indiana, to becoming a global leader in Agile methodologies, modular manufacturing, and business innovation. Joe discusses his early career, including studying Fine Arts and Computer Science at the University of Wyoming, before working with tech luminaries like Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos. He describes how his experiences with Amazon’s decentralized team structure and Agile practices shaped his understanding of efficient business operations. Joe later founded Wikispeed, a modular car company that demonstrated the power of agile principles by achieving world records in automotive design and efficiency, including designing,

In this episode of the Leanpub podcast, Len Epp interviews Chris Pinnock, an IT professional with 25 years of experience in IT, telecommunications, and blockchain, and the author of the Leanpub book Learning Russian Verbs. Chris shares his fascinating career journey, his experience learning Russian, and the unique technical approach he took to create his book. Chris began his career with a PhD in Mathematics before transitioning into IT. He worked in telecommunications for several years. Eventually, Chris joined the Tezos Foundation in Switzerland. At Tezos, he manages blockchain infrastructure, focusing on the stability and evolution of the proof-of-stake blockchain. Chris explains the nuances of blockchain technology, including key concepts like proof-of-stake, baking, and smart contracts, while comparing Tezos’ energy-efficient approach to that of other blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Chris’ passion for learning languages stems from a personal connection: his wife is Russian, and he

In this episode of the Frontmatter podcast, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp interviews Josh Bernoff, business book expert and author of the Business Book ROI Study. They explore Josh’s journey from working at Forrester Research to becoming an expert in business books and collaborating on projects that generated millions for authors. The discussion delves into insights from the Business Book ROI Study, which surveyed over 300 authors to understand motivations, financial returns, and the broader impact of writing business books. The findings highlight that most business authors write to boost credibility, generate leads, and share knowledge, with many achieving significant non-monetary benefits alongside revenue gains. Len and Josh also cover the differences between traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing, as well as how hybrid publishing can help authors achieve faster results. They discuss the challenges and opportunities AI brings to the publishing world, emphasizing the limits of AI-generated content. L

In this episode of the Frontmatter podcast, Len Epp interviews Pete Zerger, a cybersecurity strategist and Chief Information Security Officer, and author of the LeanPub book, CISSP: The Last Mile. Pete shares his career journey from IT into cybersecurity, discussing the turning points that led him into cloud security, and ultimately, cybersecurity strategy. Pete explains that his book, CISSP: The Last Mile, is designed for those pursuing the CISSP certification, a highly-regarded credential for cybersecurity professionals. Pete emphasizes the significance of the CISSP exam for career advancement in security roles, as it is one of the most in-demand certifications globally. His book is structured to help readers prepare efficiently by focusing on core exam topics and offering practical learning strategies. Pete’s approach draws from his own rapid-study methods, which allowed him to pass the CISSP exam on his first try after only two weeks of preparation. During the interview, Pete discusses cybersecur

In this episode of the FrontMatter podcast, Len Epp interviews Leah Paulos, founder of Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School. With over 25 years of experience in media and book publicity, Leah shares her journey from magazine journalism to book PR, highlighting her career’s evolution, especially as media and publishing landscapes have shifted dramatically. Leah reflects on how she moved from magazines like Condé Nast to running Press Shop PR, where she’s worked on major campaigns for books such as On Tyranny by Tim Snyder and March by John Lewis. Her transition to book publicity stemmed from her insight into media processes and her desire to help authors navigate the complex world of publishing. This experience led her to establish Book Publicity School, aimed at affordably equipping authors with the skills they need to promote their own books, particularly when they don’t have access to full-service PR campaigns. The interview delves into the challenges and strategies in today&#

In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Maciej “MJ” Jedrzejewski, author of the Leanpub book Master Software Architecture: A Pragmatic Guide. MJ, based in Switzerland, is a software developer, architect, and tech lead with extensive experience in the IT industry. He discusses his background, starting from his early fascination with hardware and overclocking processors in Poland, to his transition into software development and architecture, now working in Switzerland. The interview covers MJ’s journey from software development to becoming a software architect. He explains how his career highlights the importance of understanding both technical and business aspects when designing software. In his book, MJ offers a practical guide for navigating the complexities of software architecture, emphasizing the need for pragmatic solutions that can evolve with the business. MJ delves into the definition of software architecture, explaining that each architect may have a different

Todd Miller and Ryan Ripley are the authors of the Leanpub book Fixing Your Scrum: Practical Solutions to Common Scrum Problems. In this episode of the Frontmatter podcast, Ryan and Todd share their individual career journeys to becoming expert trainers in the Scrum framework and their deep insights in how to improve when things go wrong in your organization. Ryan, based in Indiana, reflects on his time working in various industries, including work on medical devices, and the pivotal moment when he was introduced to Scrum in 2010 during a training session with Ken Schwaber, co-creator of Scrum. Ryan describes how this experience transformed his approach to project management and led him to embrace Scrum as a core practice in his work. Similarly, Todd, based in Maryland, recounts his shift from software development to becoming a product owner and his introduction to Scrum, which helped him streamline processes in various projects. The episode covers the origin and evolution of Scrum, which began with the 1

Eric Elliott is the author of the Leanpub book The Art of Effortless Programming: Unleashing the Power of AI Driven Development. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Eric about his early fascination with AI, starting from when he was six years old, writing text-based adventure games, and developing his first neural network in the late 90s. Eric shares his career journey, from pioneering AI-driven development, to his role at Adobe Firefly, focusing on generative AI. He explains key breakthroughs in AI technology, including the significance of the 2017 paper “Attention Is All You Need” that introduced the Transformer model, which revolutionized natural language processing and paved the way for large language models like GPT-3 and GPT-4. The conversation covers the concept of “functional understanding” in AI, where models exhibit an ability to solve problems, reason, and provide explanations much like humans, without necessarily being conscious. Eric clarifies t

Michael Feathers is the author of the Leanpub book AI Assisted Programming. In this episode of the FrontMatter podcast, host Len Epp interviews Michael Feathers, founder of R7K Research and Conveyance. Michael delves into his career journey, from his early interest in technology to becoming a prominent voice in software design and the challenges of working with legacy code. The conversation begins with Michael sharing his background, detailing how his fascination with technology evolved from his childhood into a professional career focused on software engineering. He discusses the significance of legacy code in the industry, explaining how it presents both challenges and opportunities for developers. Michael’s expertise in this area has made him a key figure in helping companies navigate and modernize their existing codebases. A major focus of the interview is Michael’s insights on the growing influence of AI in programming. He discusses the potential of AI to change the way developers work,

In this episode of the FrontMatter podcast, host Len Epp interviews Eric Wise, author of Effectively Learning to Code: A Brain-Based Approach. Based in Cleveland, Eric is a software architect turned learning expert who has founded and led successful companies while honing his passion for creating impactful learning experiences. His book bridges the gap between cognitive science and coding education, offering strategies rooted in brain science to help aspiring developers learn to code more effectively. The conversation starts with Eric’s origin story. He grew up in Ohio and was inspired to pursue coding after being introduced to the Atari gaming system and the Commodore 64 by his father. Although initially drawn to game development, he shifted to business programming after recognizing the instability and demanding nature of the gaming industry. Eric discusses his successful career in enterprise architecture and consulting, highlighting his transition from working for large companies like Microsoft to j

Gojko Adzic is the author of the Leanpub book Lizard Optimization: Unlock Product Growth by Engaging Long-Tail Users. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Gojko about what he’s been up to since he was first on the podcast, managing hugely successful products with really small teams, and his new book about how to think about outlier customers. This interview was recorded on August 8, 2024. The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM298-Gojko-Adzic-2024-08-08.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts. This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

Thad McIlroy is the author of the Leanpub book The AI Revolution in Book Publishing: A Concise Guide to Navigating Artificial Intelligence for Writers and Publishers. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Thad about about his new book, and many of the important questions for both authors and books publishers in our current era of technological innovation in the area of artificial intellegence. This interview was recorded on August 6, 2024. The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM297-Thad-McIlroy-2024-08-06.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

Peter Stevens is the author of the Leanpub book The Illustrated Guide to Scrum: Scrum Explained Through Infographics. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Peter about his background and career, manufacturing innovations and what it means to be a “Musk” company, Scrum, and about his approach to writing and illustrating for professionals. This interview was recorded on July 18, 2024. The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM296-Peter-Stevens-2024-07-18.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts. This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

Leo Tam is the author of Truth Engine: Applying AI to Investing. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Leo about his background and career, his academic research and his time working at NVIDA, the deep applications of AI in investing, and about his writing process. This interview was recorded on June 17, 2024. The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM-295-Leonidas-Tam-2024-06-17.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts. This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

Stephan Schmidt is the author of the Leanpub book Amazing CTO: The Missing Manual for Managing. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Stephan about his background and career, his book and the challenges of being a CTO, and how to prepare for and thrive in that role, and also about his writing process. This interview was recorded on June 12, 2024. The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM294-Stephan-Schmidt-2024-06-12.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts. This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

Philip Gannon is the author of the Leanpub book Become a Senior Developer: A concise guide to succeeding as a Senior Software Developer. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Philip about his background and career, how he first got interested in technology, his book and the challenges faced by developers when they get promoted to senior roles, and his experience as a writer. This interview was recorded on June 10, 2024. The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM293-Philip-Gannon-2024-06-10.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

Phil Sturgeon is the author of the Leanpub book Surviving Other People’s APIs. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Phil about what he’s been up to since he was last on the podcast, co-founding the environmental charity Protect Earth, and his latest book, Surviving Other People’s APIs. This interview was recorded on May 23, 2024. The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM292-Phil-Sturgeon-2024-05-13.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

Isaak Tsalicoglou is the author of the Leanpub book The Incredible Story of Deft: What Nobody Told You About Business Hype (Lean, Agile, etc.). In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Isaak about his background and career, his books, how frameworks like Agile and Scrum can be corrupted, using Plato’s allegory of the cave to explain how startups can compete against incumbents, and about his work as a writer. This interview was recorded on April 12, 2024. The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM-291-Isaak-Tsalicoglou-2024-04-12.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts. This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

Barry O’Reilly is the author of the Leanpub book Residues: Time, Change, and Uncertainty in Software Architecture. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Barry about his background and career, Complexity Science and its connection to his fascinating concept of Residuality theory in the fields Software Architecture and Computer Science, and his experience as a writer. This interview was recorded on April 9, 2024. The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM290-Barry-O’Reilly-2024-04-09.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts. This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

Luca Minudel is the author of the Leanpub book Succeed over difficult problems by embracing Complexity-Thinking: Micro-guide to thriving in everyday complexity by breaking free from ordered and linear approaches. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Luca about his professional background, the challenges of high-pressure work, what it was like working on the software side of the Ferrari F1 team, his book, and his approach to writing. This interview was recorded on March 20, 2024. The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM289-Luca-Minudel-2024-03-20.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts. This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.