As the eighth season of the Learn to Code With Me podcast draws to a close, I wanted to share a few quick updates on LTCWM and my life outside of work. To stay in touch while we're off-season, join our email list at learntocodewith.me. Catch up on all past episodes at learntocodewith.me/podcast, including these Season 8 episodes: S8E1: From Stay-At-Home Mom to Full-Time Front-End Developer With Phoebe Voong-Fadel S8E2: From Frying Chicken to Working at Google With Danny Thompson S8E3: From Prison to Programming: How Nikkole Spurgeon Learned to Code While Incarcerated S8E4: From Washing Dishes to Managing Engineers: How Jesse Weigel Pivoted into a New Tech Career S8E5: From Admin Assistant and Cancer Survivor to Software Developer With Stacey Graham S8E6: How to Code With Your Voice (No Typing Required) With Matt Wiethoff S8E7: From Tutus to Tech: How a Ballerina Became a Front-End Developer With Kara Luton S8E8: From Film Student and Rugby Player to Startup Software Engineer with Michael Poage

After playing rugby in college, working an unpaid filmmaking internship, and switching into recruiting, Michael Poage was feeling burnt out. But after teaching himself how to code, Michael was able to land a job at startup Teachable without a computer science degree or coding bootcamp experience. In this episode, Mike talks about how he got his job at Teachable, what internal tools are and why they matter to a company, and his experience watching a brand new startup grow into a 200+ employee company. To learn more about Michael Poage, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit learntocodewith.me/s8e8. Thank you to our sponsor for this season, Linode. Host your app, website, or service on the cloud from just $5 a month, plus get $100 in credit when you create a new account at linode.com/learntocode.

At 17, Kara Luton was living on her own in New York City on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. But after realizing that a career in ballet wasn’t for her, she worked in the music industry and PR before she stumbled across coding. In this episode, you’ll learn how Kara’s athletic training helped her in her tech career, and how she became a UX engineer at CrowdStrike. To learn more about Kara Luton, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit learntocodewith.me/s8e7. Thank you to our sponsor for this season, Linode. Host your app, website, or service on the cloud from just $5 a month, plus get $100 in credit when you create a new account at linode.com/learntocode.

Matt Wiethoff had a promising career in tech, until everything was put on pause because of an injury that made it painful to type on a keyboard. But he turned his challenge into an opportunity and founded Serenade, a powerful tool that lets you code using only your voice, from refactoring code to writing docs. Your move, RSI. To learn more about Matt Wiethoff, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit learntocodewith.me/s8e6. Thank you to our sponsor for this season, Linode. Host your app, website, or service on the cloud from just $5 a month, plus get $100 in credit when you create a new account at linode.com/learntocode.

It took Stacey Graham 13 years to earn her IT degree. She’s gone through a lot – moving into another state, becoming a mother of three, surviving cancer, and losing a six-month-old son – and amidst these difficult situations, Stacey was still able to find a successful career in tech. To learn more about Stacey Graham, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit learntocodewith.me/s8e5. Thank you to our sponsor for this season, Linode. Host your app, website, or service on the cloud from just $5 a month, plus get $100 in credit when you create a new account at linode.com/learntocode.

Jesse Weigel pivoted into a new tech career under a unique combination of circumstances – a growing family, a curiosity for coding, and a friend with a job opportunity. Even without formal training, Jesse was able to teach himself to code, leave his job in the restaurant industry, and ultimately become the head of engineering at Tabela and a live coder for freeCodeCamp, where he first learned to code. To learn more about Jesse Weigel, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit learntocodewith.me/s8e4. Thank you to our sponsor for this season, Linode. Host your app, website, or service on the cloud from just $5 a month, plus get $100 in credit when you create a new account at linode.com/learntocode.

Nikkole Spurgeon has been through a lot - domestic violence, drug addiction, and even imprisonment. She knew that things should change, and that’s where coding came into the picture. In this episode, Nikkole talks about her life before prison, difficulties with learning in prison, adapting to COVID-19, her motivation for learning, transitioning to the outside world, and what her day-to-day life is like right now. To learn more about Nikkole Spurgeon, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit learntocodewith.me/s8e3. Thank you to our sponsor this season, Linode. Host your app, website, or service on the cloud from just $5 a month, plus get $100 in credit when you create a new account at linode.com/learntocode.

Danny Thompson was at a crossroads. He had to decide between staying at his job as a gas station fry cook or making a drastic career shift. And after learning to code as a hobby, Danny now works full-time at Google in Developer Relations. In this episode, Danny talks about his job search strategy and how he landed his first job in tech. He also shares the value of meaningful relationships in your career, how anyone at any age and background can learn how to code, and his best advice if you’re considering a career change. To learn more about Danny Thompson, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit learntocodewith.me/s8e2. Thank you to our sponsor this season, Linode. Host your app, website, or service on the cloud from just $5 a month, plus get $100 in credit when you create a new account at linode.com/learntocode.

In today’s episode, Phoebe Voong-Fadel talks about how she structured her days and found time to code as a stay-at-home mom, when she felt ready to start freelancing, tips for job hunting as a self-taught developer, advice for parents who want to learn to code, and more! To learn more about Phoebe Voong-Fadel, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit learntocodewith.me/s8e1. Thank you to our sponsor this season, Linode. Host your app, website, or service on the cloud from just $5 a month, plus get $100 in credit when you create a new account at linode.com/learntocode.

Host Laurence Bradford shares an update on Learn to Code With Me, including what’s new for Season 8 of the podcast. She also shares a few major updates on her life and business since Season 7 wrapped in July 2020, plus an exciting look at what’s to come in this 8-episode season of the Learn to Code With Me Podcast. Thank you to our sponsor this season, Linode. Host your app, website, or service on the cloud from just $5 a month, plus get $100 in credit when you create a new account at linode.com/learntocode.

As the seventh season of the Learn to Code With Me podcast draws to a close, I reflect on the inspiring transformation stories we shared, including recaps of my favorite moments. I also share updates on LTCWM and my goals for 2020, including a sneak peek into what we’re working on next through the end of the year. Catch up on all eight episodes from Season 7 here or at learntocodewith.me/podcast: S7E1: Making the Pivot from Pastor to Web Designer with Chris Misterek S7E2: How an English Professor Became a Front-End Web Developer with Bekah Hawrot Weigel S7E3: How a Former Squarespace Developer Helps New Coders Build Strong Technical Resumes with Rebecca Garcia S7E4: An Introduction to Vue.js with Developer and Author Erik Hanchett S7E5: How a Passion for Patients turned this Pharmacist into a Software Developer with Newvick Lee S7E6: An Unexpected Shift from Selling Beer to Coding Bootcamp with Caitlyn Greffly S7E7: From Glassblower to Software Developer using Free Coding Resources with Michael Pimentel S7E8: Building a Robotics Career and the Impact of Mentorship with Camille Eddy You can also check out the podcast on YouTube at learntocodewith.me/youtube. This was a new experiment for Season 7, so we hope you’ll check it out and subscribe.

As a young aspiring astronaut in high school, Camille Eddy started building websites to pay for her college housing. She’s a first-generation STEM student, and with support from key mentors, today, Camille is a Product Engineer at Bloc and an International Public Speaker. In this episode, you’ll learn… How Camille got into robotics How mentors have played a critical role in her career Why Camille believes it’s so important to advocate for women and Black employees in tech How Camille found internships through her network, and how each internship shaped her career ------------------ To learn more about Camille Eddy, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit learntocodewith.me/podcast. ------------------ Thank you to this episode’s partner, Interview Cake, one of the best coding interview preparation courses out there! Learn To Code With Me listeners get 20% off at learntocodewith.me/cake.

With barely enough income to support his wife and child, not to mention a poor working environment for his physical and mental health, Michael Pimentel wanted to move on from being a glassblower. That’s why after 9 years in the film industry, Michael decided to pursue a career in tech by using free online resources to teach himself how to code. If you’re considering a transition to tech from a non-traditional background, Michael offers great advice about teaching himself to code while working a physically intense full-time job, and how his tech career has evolved over the last three years. To learn more about Michael Pimentel, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit learntocodewith.me/podcast. ------------- Thank you to this episode’s partner, Interview Cake, one of the best coding interview preparation courses out there! Learn To Code With Me listeners get 20% off at learntocodewith.me/cake.

Caitlyn Greffly used to travel around the country selling beer, but it got tiring. So in pursuit of a more sustainable way of living, Caitlyn started teaching herself to code. She ended up joining a bootcamp and quickly received a job offer before she even completed the program, less than 6 months later. In this episode, Caitlyn talks about… Applying to boot camps, and how she came back after getting rejected the first time Her experience learning with Thinkful Finding a job in the middle of the boot camp The benefits of reaching out to experts for tips and shadowing opportunities The changes she had to make with her work due to COVID-19 ------------------ To learn more about Caitlyn Greffly, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit https://learntocodewith.me/podcast.

Newvick Lee is a software developer at WealthBar, a Canadian fintech company. He’s also working on Habitmon, a chatbot that helps with building habits. But before all this, Newvick was a pharmacist who helped people with mental health issues. In this episode, you’ll learn… How Newvick made the transition from pharmacist to software engineer without a computer science degree The importance of working on side projects when you're learning to code The advice Newvick shares for anyone who wants to make a tech career transition. So if you’re thinking about a change into tech and have no formal degree, this interview is for you. To learn more about Newvick Lee, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit https://learntocodewith.me/podcast. ------------------ Thank you to this episode’s partner, Interview Cake, one of the best coding interview preparation courses out there! Learn To Code With Me listeners get 20% off at learntocodewith.me/cake.

Erik is a senior software engineer at an insurance technology company in Reno, Nevada. He’s also a tech author, podcast co-host, blogger, and YouTuber. Even though Erik has a traditional computer science degree, his path wasn’t very traditional. He took a break from college after a couple of semesters, took a job in tech support for a few years, and then went back to finish his degree. And that’s what we’re going to be talking about today: Erik’s journey to becoming a senior software engineer Why having a CS degree doesn’t mean you don’t have to teach yourself to code Why Erik recommends learning the Vue.js framework And more! To learn more about Erik Hanchett, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit https://learntocodewith.me/podcast. ------------------ OPEN NOW! It’s our biggest sale of the year: The 2020 Ultimate Tech Career Toolbox. This week only, you can get access to 33 different technical online courses and books. Together, these courses would cost you $4,206. However, for this week only, you can snag them for a fraction of the cost. Specifically you can get them for 94% off. This bundle is perfect for beginners and intermediate folks alike. Learn more at learntocodewith.me/toolbox2020.

Rebecca Garcia is a Career Coach & Product Manager who helps women build fulfilling six-figure careers in tech. Previously she was a Program Manager at Microsoft, Developer at Squarespace, and is currently a Technical Product Manager. Named one of the 'Top Women Under 35 Changing the Tech Industry' by Glamour Magazine, and a 'Champion of Change for Tech Inclusion' from former U.S. President Barack Obama. In this episode, Rebecca shares her story before walking through tips to build your technical resume, even if you’re a new coder. She also offers advice on what to do with your resume during this pandemic. To learn more about Rebecca Garcia, Laurence Bradford, and today’s key takeaways, visit https://learntocodewith.me/podcast. ----- The biggest Learn to Code With Me event of the year is right around the corner — the 2020 Ultimate Tech Career Toolbox bundle sale. When you invest in our 2020 bundle, you’ll get access to a collection of products that can help you level up your coding skills and break into the tech industry. Get notified when the sale opens up by signing up at learntocodewith.me/toolbox2020.

Bekah Hawrot Weigel is a mother of four and a former part-time English teacher who redefined her life through coding. As she was giving birth to her fourth child, Bekah experienced trauma that left her with PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. Feeling lost at the time, Bekah finally took on her husband’s crazy suggestion to learn to code (as he had a few years ago). She found coding surprisingly therapeutic, and a few years later, she graduated from Flatiron School and now works as a front-end web developer. To learn more about Bekah, Laurence Bradford, or Learn to Code With Me, visit learntocodewith.me/podcast. ----- The biggest Learn to Code With Me event of the year is right around the corner — the 2020 Ultimate Tech Career Toolbox bundle sale. When you invest in our 2020 bundle, you’ll get access to a collection of products that can help you level up your coding skills and break into the tech industry. Get notified when the sale opens up by signing up at learntocodewith.me/toolbox2020.

With a full-time job as a worship pastor and as a single dad of three girls, Chris Misterek couldn’t afford to take any job that required him to be away from home. So on a friend’s recommendation, he started looking into web design, took courses, and even started building websites for his friends’ businesses or blogs. He eventually found his way to Showit, a family-oriented tech company, and in this episode, Chris talks about his transition from being a pastor to a web designer, time management strategies, the importance of having a variety of skills, and the role of Upwork in the development of his career. Learn more about Chris, host Laurence Bradford, and everything we discussed in this episode at learntocodewith.me/podcast. Thank you to this episode’s partner, Interview Cake, one of the best coding interview preparation courses out there! Learn To Code With Me listeners get 20% off at learntocodewith.me/cake.

Host Laurence Bradford shares an update on Learn to Code with Me, including what’s new for Season 7 of the podcast. She also shares a few major updates on her life and business since Season 6 wrapped in October 2019, plus an exciting look at what’s to come in this 8-episode season of the Learn to Code With Me Podcast. Special Announcement: The biggest Learn to Code With Me event of the year is right around the corner — the 2020 Ultimate Tech Career Toolbox bundle sale. This year, you can save over $3,700 in premium tech and coding courses. Here’s the catch though - the sale is only 5 days long. This year it’s happening from Monday, June 22nd - Friday, June 26th. Be the first to hear when the sale goes live by signing up for notifications at learntocodewith.me/toolbox2020 Additional Links mentioned: We’re now on YouTube! Check out Episode 1 (already live) at learntocodewith.me/youtube. Join our email list at learntocodewith.me to get our Top 10 tips to teach yourself how to code and stay updated on the Toolkit announcements and additional coding resources. Our Pandemic Wedding: Instagram Post 1, Instagram Post 2, Full Email