Once upon a time, the web was mostly a text-based medium. If you were an introverted writer who wanted to share your ideas with the world, it was the perfect place to thrive. That time is no longer.

This is part of the reason Chris & I have launched our new podcast Make Great Software (with video!). It’s a discussion show about the timeless, practical principles behind making software that works for people. One principle per episode, each anchored by a story. Plus lots of joy.

We’re releasing new episodes every Tuesday, and as of writing we’re a couple of episodes in. Content warning: we’re pretty measured about AI.

To get a taste of what the show’s about, here’s the 44-second trailer:

Episode 1 is about the work of making software and why we still love it.

Episode 2 is about making software that solves real customer problems.

The next episode will be out Tuesday.

I haven’t had this much fun working on a new venture with a trusted co-founder in years. And that’s the point. Our goal with this show (and as people) is to get back to the pure nerdy joy and optimism of building things that people love, despite the current fog of cynicism, burnout, fear, AI hype, and enshittification blanketing our industry. Our software community needs more curious makers and fewer fear-mongers and hype men. We hope you’ll join us.

If you like what you hear, letting us know will help us keep going. Subscribe and follow on your platform of choice. You can find the show on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.