Constant Variables

About this podcast

Constant Variables is a show where we take a non-technical look at iOS and Android app development. We explain ways you can use mobile software to make your business more efficient and profitable. We also interview people who use mobile apps in their businesses, and we take complex technical concepts and make them easy to understand for folks of all backgrounds.

Constant Variables

Episodes

2021
Making User Experiences Meaningful, Memorable, and Motivational with Dr. Michael Allen of Allen Interactions
There’s no content that can’t be made interesting to learn. Even installing a printer can be fun as long as the experience is made to be “meaningful, memorable and motivational.” Dr. Michael Allen of Allen Interactions joins the show to chat about how his company builds interactive learning programs around organizations’ best practices that leave people asking for more and shares his advice for designing impactful user experiences.
March 2, 2021
69 min
How to Make Subscriptions Work for Your App with Dan Burcaw of Nami ML
In an era of subscription overload, apps with subscription revenue models have their work cut out for them acquiring (and retaining) subscribers. That’s why Dan Burcaw founded Nami ML, a machine-learning company focused on helping app developers grow mobile subscription businesses by reducing churn and focusing on the core user experience. Dan joins the show to share his insights on the plight of a subscription-fatigued economy, how data collection and user privacy don’t have to be enemies, and how the app landscape has changed since the launch of the App Store in 2008.
February 23, 2021
63 min
Unpacking the Myth of the Tech Genius with Shawn Livermore, Author of Average Joe: Be the Silicon Valley Tech Genius
Are the tech geniuses behind the likes of Uber, Facebook, or Groupon born with a magic dust that’s contributed to their success? Short answer: No. However, global fascination of these companies has created a dangerous barrier of entry into the tech industry. Software engineer, consultant, and tech startup founder Shawn Livermore is dispelling the myth of the tech genius with his best-selling book, Average Joe. Shawn joins the show to breakdown how the idolization of tech geniuses has shaped the tech industry and how tech is actually made by everyday people, how communicating complexity can be more powerful than writing code, and how anyone can become a “tech genius”, but it may not be what you think it is.
February 16, 2021
53 min
Boosting Product Adoption with Video with Erica Hanna of Puke Rainbows Creative
When life gives you rain, puke a rainbow. That’s the motto of Erica Hanna, Emmy Award winner and owner of Puke Rainbows Creative. Erica joins the show to chat about the power of video for a business, and the role it can play in getting people to adopt a product or new way of working. She shares tips on how to use video to establish the voice of your business and tells some fun stories along the way, from the origin of her unique company name to her uplifting experience working with Prince.
February 9, 2021
76 min
Building the eBay for Knowledge with Clifton Manneh of Konduct Coach Learning
Clifton Manneh is on a mission to teach 100,000 youth how to code through his company Konduct Coach Learning, an edtech platform where youth and professionals gain employable skills and enhance their professional development. He joins the show to chat about how his mom’s cooking influenced his passion for community-based learning, the lessons he learned as a solo-entrepreneur, and the impact he hopes Konduct Coach Learning will have on the community.
February 2, 2021
24 min
Development Milestones, Tangibles and Timelines
Ever been hosed by a developer? It’s an unfortunate story we hear time and time again. Understanding the high-level milestones associated with most development projects can give you confidence in knowing your project is on the right track. In this episode, Tim chats about the tangible assets you should expect to receive at each development stage, along with a fair pace for completing each stage.
January 26, 2021
13 min
Building Apps with Low Code/No Code Development Tools
With a proliferation of low code/no code development tools on the market, these platforms can be an attractive option for businesses looking to build an app quickly without the use of an experienced software developer. But these tools have their limitations. Tim chats about the benefits and challenges of this development approach to help businesses determine if low code/no code apps are the right solution for their project.
January 19, 2021
9 min
Seizing Opportunity in Podcasting with Twila Dang of Matriarch Digital Media
Audio is booming, and as more organizations recognize its value, a proliferation of podcasting tools, platforms, and shows are hitting the market every day, making a highly-accessible medium feel intimidating to noobs. Founder & CEO of Matriarch Digital Media Twila Dang is no stranger to the power of audio, and she joins the show to share how simple it is to get started with podcasting, with just a cellphone and a plan. Twila gets into the weeds of how businesses can be successful with podcasting and the doors that open when you make something you’re proud of.
January 12, 2021
75 min
Making Email Private and Better for Everyone with Bron Gondwana of Fastmail
Think your email's private? Think again. Big tech email providers use your data as a way to get rich. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Fastmail CEO Bron Gondwana joins the show from the Land Down Under to chat about why “free” email isn’t free. Bron explains how email is the biggest social network in the world that isn’t ephemeral, why building digital products should align with your moral values, and how open source and open standards benefit all.
January 5, 2021
56 min
2020
2021 Tech Predictions
Every week, millions of people come online for the first time, and how they use technology plays into the future of tech. Heading into 2021, we’re looking at how we can use tech to work together to continue to make everyone’s lives better. In this episode, Rob and Tim come together for their annual chat about technology trends for the coming year, from the breakup of tech giants, the next stage of autonomous vehicles, and machine learning in healthcare, to ultimately where companies will be investing when it comes to tech in 2021.
December 29, 2020
37 min
Building a Business & Community with Intention with Mike Jackson of Black Tech Talent
Building a company comes with a learning curve for any entrepreneur. Building an app-based company as a non-technical entrepreneur can make that learning curve sharper. Mike Jackson, founder of The Premium Experience, joins the show to discuss his experience building a tech based business as a solo, non-technical founder and how it prepared him for the launch of his next company, Black Tech Talent. Mike shares what he wishes he’d known when he first had an idea and didn’t know where to start, how he pivoted his focus when the global pandemic shut down his company’s growth plans, and how he’s opening doors by educating different viewpoints on hiring Black talent.
December 22, 2020
82 min
Mitigating Risks in App Development
Murphy's law of "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong” doesn’t exclude software development (unfortunately). In this episode, Tim outlines common risks associated with app development and how to get on the same page as your development team to have systems in place to mitigate them.
December 15, 2020
19 min
Practicing Tenacity with Eric Martell
With experience building two tech-based companies from the ground up, serial entrepreneur Eric Martell has gathered an impressive collection of analogies around succeeding in the startup space. He joins the show to chat about building his recent venture Pear Commerce, marrying product philosophy with business philosophy, hiring people who buy into your mission, investing in repeat customers over acquiring new ones, and using tech to scale, before finally nerding out with Tim over database tech.
December 8, 2020
48 min
Hybrid vs. Native Apps
One of the first development decisions you’ll make when building an app is whether to build on a native platform or a hybrid platform. In this episode, Tim gets into best use cases for hybrid and native apps, along with each platform’s limitations, so you can decide the best approach for your project.
December 1, 2020
14 min
Vetting a Tech Partner’s Posture with George Brooks of Crema
When looking for a technical team for your project, you’re not asking for a product. You are asking for a relationship that results in a product. You’re not asking for lines of code. You’re asking for solutions that produce meaningful outcomes. Founder & CEO George Brooks of digital product agency Crema joins the show to discuss how to find the passion and posture of a digital agency, the no-win situation that is RFPs and why it’s important to go outside the RFP process to have a conversation, why his digital agency vets clients in return by finding out if they’re ready to be a tech company and whether they want a relationship or a transaction, and how he didn’t name his company after a Mexican sour cream.
November 24, 2020
54 min
How Apps Use Data
There’s no such thing as a free app or website. If you’re not paying for a product, you are the product, and when it comes to “free” apps, the product is your private information. Apps collect, store, and use data in ways that are both purposeful and nefarious. In this episode, Rob and Tim chat about why apps collect data and how it’s used, how app owners can be intentional with user data, and how app users can protect their information.
November 17, 2020
22 min
How Ideas Turn into Apps with the Team Behind the MFIP Connect App
Building an app isn’t just about the technology but about the lives it makes easier. Ashley Bennett, Sook Jin Ong, and Pamela McCauley share the inspiring story behind the development of the Minnesota Family Investment Program’s pilot app, MFIP Connect. They discuss the app’s powerful role as a communication tool, along with the unexpected questions around social equity it brought to the table. They dig deep into how they prioritized initial features, knowing they wouldn’t meet the needs of every user, and how feedback gave them space to innovate.
November 10, 2020
44 min
Implementing “Easy” Features
Some app features are seemingly easy to develop but are actually complex to implement, driving up development costs. These are features we see everyday, and therefore take for granted. Rob and Tim chat about the nuances of features like data sync, search, push notifications, in-app purchasing, messaging, and more to help you understand where to get the most value with the least amount of effort when building your product.
November 3, 2020
26 min
Delivering a Fluid User Experience in a Restaurant’s Online Ordering App
For a restaurant, a customer leaving with a bad taste in their mouth is the ultimate faux paus. And we’re not just talking about food. A stellar user experience when ordering from a restaurant’s app can be a differentiator in this competitive industry. Rob and Tim chat about their experience building a delivery app for a Midwest pizza chain, then take a trip further down memory lane to the hip days of AOL, floppy disks, AIM, and Space Jam.
October 27, 2020
25 min
Embracing an Innovative Culture with Stephanie Hammes-Betti of US Bank
When we put humans first, we can learn a lot. Stephanie Hammes-Betti is the Senior Vice President of Innovation Design at US Bank, and her 18-year career there has given her extensive know-how in UX/UI design, usability testing, and technology solutions. Stephanie joins the show to chat about how innovation happens within a large organization, how to go about listening to customers, and the benefits of teaching an innovative mindset to employees.
October 20, 2020
43 min

Constant Variables

About this podcast

Categories

About this podcast

Categories

Constant Variables

Episodes

Making User Experiences Meaningful, Memorable, and Motivational with Dr. Michael Allen of Allen Interactions

How to Make Subscriptions Work for Your App with Dan Burcaw of Nami ML

Unpacking the Myth of the Tech Genius with Shawn Livermore, Author of Average Joe: Be the Silicon Valley Tech Genius

Boosting Product Adoption with Video with Erica Hanna of Puke Rainbows Creative

Building the eBay for Knowledge with Clifton Manneh of Konduct Coach Learning

Development Milestones, Tangibles and Timelines

Building Apps with Low Code/No Code Development Tools

Seizing Opportunity in Podcasting with Twila Dang of Matriarch Digital Media

Making Email Private and Better for Everyone with Bron Gondwana of Fastmail

2021 Tech Predictions

Building a Business & Community with Intention with Mike Jackson of Black Tech Talent

Mitigating Risks in App Development

Practicing Tenacity with Eric Martell

Hybrid vs. Native Apps

Vetting a Tech Partner’s Posture with George Brooks of Crema

How Apps Use Data

How Ideas Turn into Apps with the Team Behind the MFIP Connect App

Implementing “Easy” Features

Delivering a Fluid User Experience in a Restaurant’s Online Ordering App

Embracing an Innovative Culture with Stephanie Hammes-Betti of US Bank